Radical or problematic? Rutger Bregman's book, Moral Ambition, Drive A Change, gives the handle to those with privilege

New Indian Express

17-05-2025

'Of all things wasted in our throwaway times, the greatest is wasted talent. There are millions of people around the world who could help make the world a better place, but they do not.' Dutch historian and author Rutger Bregman's latest book, Moral Ambition (Bloomsbury), starts with these lines, and throughout, it tries to answer many questions related to the betterment of this world. 'The book is an amalgamation of the idealism of an activist and the ambition of an entrepreneur. It offers a fresh perspective to people who are facing challenges like sticking to a meaningless job and are willing to quit it to find a purpose. It is also an antidote to talent-wasting,' says Bregman.
Make a difference
As the book addresses key issues like waste of human talent, unemployment, lack of meaningful jobs, a pertinent question: 'How to drive change?' Bregman believes the answer lies in finding the right people at the right time. 'It is important to be part of a small group with morally ambitious people. They can see the larger picture and drive a sea change in this world. I have co-founded a school called Moral Ambition, which tries to bring many of these groups together to work on issues like poverty reduction, educational inequalities, and many others,' adds Bregman.
About being a part of meaningful associations, the book refers to the Pareto Principle, a theory by Italian economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto, which states that a small percentage (20 percent) of inputs refer to a large section of outputs (80 percent). 'It is important to be a part of that 20 percent. Although they are a minority in numbers, they can drive big change,' notes Bregman.
Where's the money?
Sticking to a useless job may be boring; however, it adds financial stability. Where will people find the strength to quit that and look for a change? In simpler terms, where is the money to drive change? When Bregman was asked this question, he pointed to the concept of privilege and posits a problematic theory. According to him, it is the privileged who are capable of driving change. 'This book is particularly meant for those who come with certain privileges. Those who have got good education, who have time to read a book, and who have some capital, need to drive the change,' he says. 'During the pandemic, we saw how farmers and several other unskilled workers went on strike. Their financial gains were at stake, however, that did not compel them to take courageous steps. Now, it is our moral responsibility to make the world a better place for them by taking risks,' he says.