The Year Ahead
From The Editor's Desk
The Year Ahead
It was a rough 2021 for human beings. But Wisdom of Crowds is doing well.
Derek Hudson
Published on: Jan 2, 2022  |  

Happy New Year, and thank you for being a part of our growing community!

2021 was a garbage year, but amid all the gloominess there were some bright spots. One thing we are excited about is the growth of Wisdom of Crowds and the traction our work is getting. The relative dreadfulness of 2021 sharpened our writing. Our pieces have gone semi-viral and have driven the public conversation. We have been recognized as “one of the very few publications that takes ideas seriously.” (Thanks Bari!)

My favorite essays by Shadi included his reflections on the anniversary of 9/11...

When We Were Young
On the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, a reflection on decisions, fate, and hope.
Wisdom of CrowdsShadi Hamid

...and his comparison of our domestic political dynamics to those that have wracked the Middle East for generations.

America Is Like the Middle East
Can our wounded democracy muddle through 2024?
Wisdom of CrowdsShadi Hamid

Damir’s gloomy prognosis about how the world is coming unglued stands out...

The Coming Storm
The world is in worse crisis than we can believe.
Wisdom of CrowdsDamir Marusic

...as does his rumination about family history and fate in former Yugoslavia.

What Brings Us Together?
Communism, difference, and an unexpected family history.
Wisdom of CrowdsDamir Marusic

We had a bunch of interesting (and controversial) guests on the podcast this year, including Andrew Sullivan, Glenn Greenwald, Ross Douthat, Sohrab Ahmari, Fiona Hill, and Michael Brendan Dougherty—all episodes that, we think, fully live up to our ethos of getting to the heart of why people think what they think and believe what they believe.

2021 also featured some memorable guest essays from members of the broader Wisdom of Crowds community. If you haven’t done so yet, check out Rachel Rizzo’s moving exploration about identity and belonging growing up as an Orthodox Christian in Mormon Utah:

Among the Believers
Growing up in Utah, I wanted to be Mormon. I wasn’t.
Wisdom of CrowdsRachel Rizzo

Or read David Polansky’s sharp essay on our delusions about democracy’s unique virtues:

Democracy and Divine Justice
Why do we think that the unjust behavior of democratic states will lead to their ruin?
Wisdom of CrowdsDavid Polansky

These two pieces have been among our most popular this year. We plan to significantly build out this aspect of Wisdom of Crowds by bringing in more outside contributors. Stay tuned—and please pitch us if you have any ideas you think might work in our pages.

Yes, 2021 was a garbage year—but it could have been worse. And the year to come ought to be better. Much more is in store from Wisdom of Crowds, including new site features, new partnerships, and new writers.

Onward to 2022!

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