We live in a world that moves at breakneck speed. Technology advances faster than we can keep up with, economies optimize for efficiency but deepen inequality, and politics operates in a constant state of crisis management. Ironically, the faster things move, the more stuck we feel. But is this just an accident, or is stagnation the natural result of too much acceleration?
1. The Speed Trap
For most of history, progress was seen as a straight line—an upward path leading to greater knowledge, wealth, and freedom. But now, when everything is moving faster than ever, real progress seems harder to find. Why?
Think of technology. Every innovation promises to make life easier, but often brings new problems instead. Faster transportation means more accidents. The internet gives us unlimited access to information but overwhelms us with noise and misinformation. Social media connects us but fuels anxiety and polarization. The more we speed up, the more fragile things become.
This is especially clear in the economy. Capitalism thrives on what economist Joseph Schumpeter called “creative destruction”—old industries die so new ones can emerge. But lately, destruction seems to be outpacing creation. The gig economy was supposed to empower workers, but instead, it has made jobs more unstable. Financial markets create wealth, but mainly for those who already have it. More speed, less security.
2. Politics in Fast-Forward
Democracy wasn’t designed to move at lightning speed. Governing well requires debate, planning, and long-term thinking. But in today’s world, politicians are stuck in short election cycles, forced to chase quick wins instead of solving real problems.
Take the 2008 financial crisis. The economy crashed because of reckless speculation, yet instead of bold reforms, governments patched things up with bailouts and emergency fixes. The result? More inequality, more economic instability, and a political system that feels powerless to address big issues like climate change, healthcare, or rising costs of living.
Wendy Brown, a political theorist, argues that power is shifting away from elected leaders to unelected institutions like central banks and corporate boards. That means decisions get made based on market logic, not public debate. The economy keeps moving faster, but democracy gets stuck.
3. The Culture of Rewind and Repeat
Culturally, we’re also stuck in an endless loop. The future used to be about new ideas, radical creativity, and imagining a better world. Now, we just remix the past. Hollywood is dominated by sequels, reboots, and nostalgia. Music, fashion, and even design trends recycle old styles rather than create new ones.
British theorist Mark Fisher called this “the slow cancellation of the future.” Instead of inventing new possibilities, we endlessly scroll through what’s already been done. And digital platforms like Netflix and Spotify don’t help—rather than encouraging originality, they push content that’s safe, familiar, and predictable. Everything new feels strangely old.
4. Can We Break Free?
So, is there a way out of this cycle? Some thinkers suggest that instead of trying to keep up with speed, we should slow down and rethink what real progress means.
One alternative is the idea of “degrowth”—shifting away from measuring success by GDP and focusing instead on sustainability, well-being, and fair resource distribution. This would mean valuing depth over speed, care over consumption.
But change is tricky. Just as industrial capitalism sparked labor movements and welfare states, today’s crisis of acceleration might force new ways of organizing society. Whether that leads to a fairer world or just new forms of control is still up in the air.
5. The Big Question
The paradox of speed and stagnation isn’t a glitch—it’s built into the system. History has always swung between fast-moving revolutions and long periods of slowdown. What’s different now is that speed itself has become the goal.
Maybe the real challenge isn’t stopping acceleration, but taking control of it. Can we make speed work for us instead of against us? Or are we doomed to keep moving faster without ever really getting anywhere?
The future used to be something we looked forward to. Now, it feels like it’s already behind us. The question is: can we create a new one?
Reference:
Hoerning, J. (2023). Thinking the Unthinkable. New Left Review, 143, September-October 2023.
