"All you now do is pursue your private objectives within society. Instead of us being a community, everybody is asked to seek their own personal ends. It's called competition. And competition is antagonism"

Edward Bond draws attention to a fundamental change in the social fabric, where the collective experience of community has given way to an individualized drive for personal achievement. This pursuit of private objectives has become the dominant mode of existence within society, sidelining shared purposes and mutual support in favor of isolated ambitions. People, no longer united by a common cause or sense of belonging, are instead pushed to carve out their own paths, often at the expense of larger communal ties.

This individualistic ethos is framed as competition, a value deeply embedded in modern social and economic systems. It is widely celebrated and encouraged, portrayed as a catalyst for progress and innovation. Nevertheless, Bond points out the darker undercurrent: competition is fundamentally rooted in antagonism. When individuals are pitted against each other, the relationships among them inevitably become adversarial. What might be heralded as healthy rivalry soon turns into conflict, breeding distrust, envy, and hostility. The supposed meritocracy, where everyone is urged to strive for personal gain, undermines cooperation and erodes the spirit of solidarity that forms the foundation of authentic communities.

Bond’s observation challenges the narrative that competition naturally benefits all. While some may rise, others are inevitably left behind. The process privileges self-interest, constraining opportunities for empathy or fellowship. When society’s primary directive is to seek personal advantage, the space for collective well-being shrinks dramatically. The social contract dissolves into a sum of self-serving transactions, and the sense of collective responsibility dissipates.

The antagonistic nature Bond describes is not merely rhetorical; it manifests in alienation, anxiety, and the fragmentation of social bonds. The loss is not only material but existential—people may gain material rewards but lose the sense of belonging and purpose that comes from genuine community. The warning is clear: prioritizing competition over community risks creating a society that is efficient but profoundly lonely and divided.