Larger social movements at scale

#2890

We are all concerned about how to engage the general population in initiatives to cope with climate and related issues. Simple thought pieces and policy announcements do not add up to sufficient robustness and scale to make anything change.I have been reading in the histories of social transformations in the past. So far what is most helpful Is Arnold Toynbee’s analysis if why empires (cultures) fail or succeed* For example in societies in decay we sees three groups: those who try to help, those who are truants (I want to get outa here), or promiscuous (shift allegiance to one group then another, then another). The point here is dealing with what resonates for large groups. The message for us might be that large groups show shifting loyalties and these brings culture changes. These are most; related to belief at the level of the cosmos. Obviously Christianity. Islam. Confucius , are really different and  these differences emerged in the face of major shifts in fortune.

The conclusion I draw is that we should embrace the ideas and analysis of such major beliefs and stop polarizations such as Trump/ anti Trump. In the trump case it is obvious we are observing a major shift in the world beliefs of a large part o f the population and we must ride that tiger, not just try to kill it. It is a vehicle of social change at scale that might be what we are - or  should be - looking for.

*Toynbee,The study f History. There is a very good abridged edition of his seven volumes at Amazon.

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In nine states (of Mexico)including Nuevo Leon, temperatures were forecast to top 45C (113F) on Thursday.