On the Political Climate and Civilization’s Potential Downfall

Towards the end of the essay, Freud reflects on the political climate of the 1930s, particularly the rise of authoritarian regimes such as communism and fascism. He views these developments as manifestations of the collective discontent within society, driven by the unresolved tension between individual desires and societal demands.

Freud questions whether civilization, in its efforts to regulate human behavior, might be undermining itself, potentially leading to its own destruction.