Rethinking Imposed Individualism and the Role of Power Structures in Shaping Human Destiny

This article critiques forms of imposed individualism that, by over-emphasizing personal responsibility and self-awareness, ignore how political, economic, and social structures shape human destiny. Drawing on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the notion of structural determinism, and Bourdieu’s analysis of cultural capital, it argues that many contemporary hardships are the product of unjust policies and structural inequalities rather than individual failure. The paper contends that self-awareness and self-actualization become viable only when basic needs are met and social justice is pursued; otherwise, calls for “inner work” reproduce the status quo. It further shows how one-dimensional discourses silence disadvantaged experiences and hinder society’s movement toward multidimensionality.