In his highly informative article, “Survival of the Richest,” Evan Osnos addresses the concept of survivalism and its current reflection in the United States. Defined as “the practice of preparing for a crackup of civilization,” survivalism has already affected the country’s most affluent population groups (Osnos 2). In other words, the richest American citizens take the idea of the apocalypse highly seriously and prepare for the end of the world. At the same time, Osnos aims to evaluate this tendency and investigate the motives of moguls’ desire to prepare for doomsday. According to his successfully proven findings, survivalism has already penetrated into people’s mentality, politics, business, and culture. Moreover, this concept reflects contemporary economic challenges, the crisis of the government’s structure, and deep social disparities.
On the basis of rich people’s comments that substantially support the study and make it valid, the author explains that the majority of hedge-fund managers, technology executives, companies’ founders, and “others in their economic cohort” are preparing for apocalypse (Osnos 2). Even in Silicon Valley, a place responsible for technological progress for a better and safe future for humankind, survivalism is taken seriously. However, it may be explained by the fact that, due to technologies, people there are rewarded with “the ability to imagine wildly different futures” – from highly optimistic to completely catastrophic (Osnos 5). As a result, wealthy Americans who share ideas with each other want to be ready for any calamity, either natural or man-made, and protect their families as well. As a result, they build shelters and buy land, huge amounts of food, gas masks, motorcycles, helicopters, gold coins, and weaponry. Explaining their preparations, the majority of wealthy people predict institutional collapse, political insecurity, the fragility of contemporary life and social structures, and imminent society breakdown. At the same time, survivalism among the richest Americans emphasizes socioeconomic disparities. For instance, a considerable number of moguls are egoistically preparing for the apocalypse without any care about less prosperous people.
At the same time, the idea of survivalism is supported in almost all spheres of life. According to Larry Hall, the C.E.O. of the Survival Condo Project, the federal government pays particular attention to catastrophic planning (Osnos 9). Armageddon was a substantial matter for American government policymakers during the Cold War. In the present day, preparations for the apocalypse on the governmental level may be refinanced due to North Korea’s bomb testing (Osnos 12). As a result, the global environment, governmental initiatives, and mass media that contribute to the massive spread of anxiety raise people’s awareness of survivalism. In addition, this concept “has been edging deeper into mainstream culture” – “Doomsday Preppers” has become the most popular show on National Geographic Channel (Osnos 5). It goes without saying that business has substantial benefits related to public anxiety concerning the end of the world. Various companies construct and sell places both luxurious private bunkers for the richest population and less expensive shelters for ordinary people.
To conclude, it is possible to say that Evan Osnos has managed to prove the chosen topic dedicated to survivalism. On the basis of comments of people straightforwardly involved in the research, he conducted a well-elaborated study. He proved that the concept of survivalism is no longer regarded as nonsense. The richest Americans predict social, technological, and natural calamities and egoistically prepare for them. However, survivalism supported by governmental initiatives, global challenges, and mass media affects ordinary people as well, forcing them to invest in private companies that construct bunkers for the apocalypse.
Work Cited
Osnos, Evan. “Survival of the Richest.” New Yorker, vol. 92, no. 47, 2017, pp. 36-45. Web.