Dystopian visions of the future often serve as warnings that, over time, prove surprisingly relevant. In a rapidly changing reality, we increasingly find ourselves wondering whether, as a society, we are heading toward self-destruction. In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley presents many ideas that, like a mirror image, are beginning to resemble our contemporary world. But is this world truly brave and wonderful?
A World Without Conflict
Huxley depicts a reality in which there is no room for chance or an excess of emotion. Society, divided into “castes,” functions through a process of self-reproduction, designed so that everyone knows their place, feels fulfilled, and asks no unnecessary questions. In a world dominated by technology, humanity has been pushed to the margins. Society begins to resemble a machine driven by consumerism, focused on pleasure and the avoidance of negative emotions.
Nearly a century after the novel’s publication, our reality increasingly resembles this dystopian world. Brave New World serves as a metaphor for comfort achieved at the cost of humanity. Consumerism, alienation, and the decline of the traditional concept of family are becoming defining features of everyday life in the twenty-first century. Modern relationships are increasingly superficial, often built around the avoidance of discomfort.
The development of the internet has had a profound impact on this process, fundamentally changing the way people form relationships. Dating apps are a perfect example of this shift, resembling shopping platforms where people are judged and selected primarily on the basis of appearance. Another troubling phenomenon is ghosting, which has become a symbol of the decline of dialogue and the avoidance of uncomfortable conversations in favor of personal comfort.
Contemporary Soma
The main tool used to maintain order in Huxley’s world is soma, a narcotic consumed by the entire population. In today’s reality, soma can be seen as an analogy for instant distraction and emotional numbing. It manifests itself in everyday practices such as endless scrolling, which is increasingly becoming a silent addiction.
Conversations during public transport journeys are now largely a thing of the past, replaced by a simple cycle of instant gratification. It is easier to focus on a screen than to look at another person and try to start a conversation. Importantly, this pattern does not apply only to interactions with strangers; it can also be observed in family relationships and friendships.
Another concerning phenomenon is the ironic tone that characterizes many conversations among young people, who are often reluctant to confront real problems and instead seek distraction. As a consequence, people experience loneliness in a crowd despite being physically together. There are countless examples of individuals who appear cheerful on the outside while internally struggling with significant challenges. Rather than sharing their difficulties, they hide painful emotions behind a mask of apparent laughter.
This leads to growing tension that is not eliminated by today’s “soma” but merely accumulates, only to return in the form of emotional outbursts, broken relationships, or quiet withdrawal from others. As in Huxley’s novel, the problem is not conflict itself, but the attempt to silence it when it genuinely exists.
Mediation as an Alternative to Soma
In response to a reality where difficult emotions are suppressed, mediation restores a space for genuine conversation. People are not afraid of relationships; they often simply do not feel safe in dialogue. Where “soma” removes tension, mediation creates a safe environment in which that tension can be addressed and resolved.
Working through, experiencing, and understanding conflict is key to improving human relationships. Mediation offers a meaningful alternative to the quick fixes provided by modern forms of distraction and emotional avoidance.
A central theme in Brave New World is the story of John, known as “the Savage,” a man raised outside the system. When he enters a technologically advanced civilization, he finds himself unable to adapt to a world stripped of fundamental human values. The differences between the two ways of life lead to mutual misunderstanding and ultimately tragic consequences.
John’s story illustrates how easily people reject what is different instead of making an effort to understand it. In today’s world, a similar dynamic can be seen in cultural differences, which often result in misunderstanding and exclusion. In such situations, intercultural mediation can provide a solution. It creates a space where different ways of thinking, expressing emotions, and understanding conflict can be safely acknowledged, interpreted, and translated across cultural boundaries.
Conclusion
The world portrayed by Huxley was not a wonderful one. The elimination of all conflict may sound like a utopian ideal, but the loss of deep relationships and the absence of meaningful dialogue reduce humanity to mere cogs in a vast machine. If we wish to avoid a similar path, we should begin by reclaiming space for dialogue—even when it is uncomfortable.
Because it is not conflict that destroys relationships, but the lack of courage to experience it, confront it, and understand it.
Author: Jakub Turczyński, SWPS University Wrocław student, Journalism and Social Communication.
This article was written as part of an internship at The Talk Box.