Ballard's Prevision: A Mirror to Modern Britain
As I reflect on the current socio-political landscape of Britain, I find myself drawn back to the words of JG Ballard in his novel Kingdom Come, published almost 20 years ago. In it, an Englishman named Richard Pearson uncovers the disturbing undercurrents of a suburban town that seems deceptively normal. From his sudden encounter with alarming headlines to his observations of the prevalent symbols of nationalism, Ballard laid bare a reality that has only grown more pronounced today.
A Disturbing Resonance
The moment Pearson drives into Surrey, decorated with the flags of St George, he embodies the naivete with which many approach today's Britain. The decorum hides a festering underbelly of racism and xenophobia, making him an unwilling witness to the unsettling truth. He is soon confronted with reality: a society suffocated by terror, as demonstrated by attacks on asylum seekers and local businesses. Ballard's foresight feels hauntingly relevant.
“Everything in Kingdom Come happens in Brooklands, a suburb that wants to pretend nothing is happening.”
Not Just Fiction: A Political Wake-Up Call
Ballard's prose serves not just as fiction but as an urgent call for reflection. As I navigate the contemporary narrative—one that increasingly veers towards nationalist politics—I recognize a troubling trend in British society. The simplistic explanations offered by many analysts fail to capture the complexity of our situation. To dismiss the rise of far-right sentiments as a foreign incursion is to neglect an uncomfortable reality rooted deeply in our socio-political fabric.
Breaking Down the Myths
As Ballard provocatively points out, the landscape shifts outside the metropolitan centers where inequality quietly festers. While political discourse often romanticizes traditional British values, suburban areas reveal frayed realities sparked by class division and cultural fragmentation. The characters inhabiting Ballard's representation of modernity live as harbingers of a society tipping toward chaos, marked by racism and division.
The Uneasy Transition to Suburban Reality
In Kingdom Come, Pearson's observations morph into a coming-of-age narrative as he awakens to the blatantly hostile society unfolding around him. We see scenes of escalation where peaceful neighborhoods erupt into violence against those deemed 'other'. These gendered and racialized dynamics are alarmingly familiar, as both nostalgia and fear fuel the flames of discontent.
A Long History of Decline
The reflections on earlier decades paint a picturesque picture of a Britain that once thrived on stability. We now face a decline birthed not just by economic failures, but by a broad cultural rejection of what was shorthand for 'Britishness.' Today, however, we confront the gravity of choices made. Ballard's encapsulation of our 'retail politics' reminds us that hollow charisma has no substitute for substantive change.
“Twenty years after this story was printed, we are just starting to write the history of the strange death of neoliberal England.”
Our Ongoing Reckoning
We find ourselves at a juncture where the narrative of a flourishing Britain is laughingly anachronistic. Class alienation looms large, and unless we tackle these issues head-on, we risk ascending to a new norm characterized by continuous polarities. Perhaps the most provocative lesson from Ballard's work is the urgent need for self-examination among those living in comfortable suburban anonymity. The clock is ticking.
Conclusion: Time to Revisit Ballard
Now more than ever, revisiting JG Ballard's Kingdom Come is crucial for anyone seeking to understand the country we inhabit. The novel not only serves as a prophetic warning but a vital educational tool for current and future generations facing a fracturing society. How we grapple with these depictions will determine our path forward.
Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist
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Source reference: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/18/sickness-britain-novel-20-years-ago-jg-ballard
