Dreams and Nightmares:
Utopias and Dystopias in the Twentieth Century

The history of twentieth-century utopias in the Western world is a history of extremes. Never before had the world witnessed such large-scale attempts to improve society, and, when some of those experiments failed, never before had it beheld such devastating consequences. Most of these experiments, particularly in the first half of the century, were carried out in the name of progress, whose potential was seen almost everywhere. No element or aspect of human life and society — human genes, bodies, minds, families, houses, neighborhoods, cities, the workplace, political structures, the earth, the atmosphere, outer space — was considered too large or too small to benefit from an unending faith in progress. And while many benefits were in fact achieved, no element or aspect was left entirely unaffected by negative results.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the previous generation’s blind faith in progress became subject to intense examination and reevaluation. People looked back at the promises of the revolutions of the eighteenth century and asked themselves whether the guarantees of equal rights for all had indeed been fulfilled. "Dropping out" and heading "back to the land" were two of the actions that called into question the benefits of a society based on technology, industry, and competition.

The utopian literature of the period reflects the many dialogues that resonated throughout the century. Within the realm of fiction, proposed utopias could be carried to their most imaginative extremes. The concept of the dystopia was introduced, revealing the dangerous consequences of a utopia turning against itself.

In the ongoing search for the ideal society, the Internet has been proposed as a "place" in which an ideal society could exist. Take the poll to help you think about and give your opinion on the Internet as a utopia.
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