Problems of Utopias

In the Science Fiction Novel, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, individuals are repressed in a totalitarian dystopia,  under constant surveillance, although the presentation of the society is one of a utopia. I think in literature and history, idealistic utopias often have a sinister strand or ending, so I think it is important to keep this in mind.

John Grey describes in Black Mass how utopian thinking helps us avoid facing realities. For example, the invasion of Iraq was (supposedly) done with the view to establish democracy there. But this is perhaps a misguided, naive view, that democracy can or should be implemented everywhere, in places with out the social history that supports its establishment.

Utopian ideals of the past, marxism, hippy communes of the 60's, Fascist movements all had utopian strands and this was perhaps part of their dissent into dystopias.