Re-Reading Future Shock 50 Years On
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
Future Shock skates across the surfaces of the world that it describes, piling up anecdote and data, playing fast and loose with timescales. This may be the reason for its success; the single idea about “future shock” morphs endlessly, shape-shifting as we go through the book. Does it have a theory of change? Arguably, it is that everything is accelerating, and that this will then have deep and drastic social consequences.
Ripping Off the Plaster
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
They say that your syntax always finds you out. Metaphors can be just as revealing. As George Lakoff observes, metaphors are the devices we use to frame the way we think about the world. In politics, according to Lakoff, it the competition for the frames--effectively, competition between the metaphors--that resolves electoral and political competition.
Brexit and Long Wave Thinkings
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
Although Turchin's piece is full of comparisons between the UK and the US, which he sees as fellow travellers, certainly when compared to France, there are significant differences between Trumpism and Brexit.
The Curse of Thomas Malthus
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
Poor old Malthus. He has had a bad reputation ever since he predicted, towards the end of the 18th century, that over-population would lead to famine and then to social collapse.
Britain’s Fault-Lines
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
I argue here that these fault-lines originate in real and deep differences that have emerged in Britain over decades rather than in the few years since the financial crisis.
Oligarchs and Executives
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
When oligarchies collapse, they collapse in one of two ways.
World Factory
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
World Factory is an extraordinary theatre project that sets out to explore the impact of globalised production (and by extension, globalised trade) by creating an experiential space for its audience.
Heathrow as Cargo Cult
By Andrew Curry, thenextwave
No matter how you stack it up, the notion that further expanding Heathrow makes sense falls apart as soon as you touch it, at least for anyone except the Airports Commission and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.