
Supply Shock
The Fourth Turning: How Will It End? | Neil Howe
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Generational change follows a recurring pattern of contrasting generational sequences, such as the idealistic boomers and pragmatic Gen Xers, shaping history and society.
- Conflicts, whether internal or external, act as catalysts for societal transformation, leading to the rebuilding and rejuvenation of institutions during a fourth turning.
Deep dives
Overview of Generational Theory and Fourth Turning
The podcast episode features an interview with Neil Howe, an expert on generational theory and author of 'The Fourth Turning.' Howe explains that the study of generational change started in the late 1980s and focuses on how generations experience and shape history. He highlights the recurring pattern of generational sequences and contrasts over time, such as the idealistic boomers followed by the pragmatic Gen Xers. Howe also explores the concept of fourth turnings, which are periods of societal crisis and reconstruction that occur roughly once per human lifetime. He explains the cyclical nature of these turnings and how they involve internal conflicts, external conflicts, and the reinvention of strong institutions. Overall, the interview provides an overview of generational theory and the significance of the current fourth turning period in shaping America's future.