There has been a deal of speculation lately (how else can we confirm the existence of the world beyond while stuck in our houses, except by speculation!) regarding the collapse of the economy and social relations brought about by lockdown. How might that prompt a rethink of the way we organise and govern ourselves and could it precipitate change to budge the world from the political doldrums in which it has languished and suffered for some decades now? How realistic is it to expect great political upheaval in the wake of the pandemic? And if things have been so bad for so long, then why has it been so difficult up until the break of this new crisis to recognise that change is needed? Works by Franco ‘Bifo’ Berardi, Paul B Preciado, Chantal Mouffe, Ivan Krastev and Stephen Homes are reviewed.