Futurology

Is history, and therefore the future, a riddle that might be solved with a rhyme? Note: This post takes considerable liberties with the generational theory presented in the books, The Fourth Turning and The Fourth Turning is Here to conduct a thought experiment about the next upcoming generation, Gen Beta. The authors of the Fourth Turning do not account for generations Alpha or Beta in their published books. They use a unique measure of generations, which to date has not progressed past Gen Z (referred to in the Fourth Turning as “Homelanders” belonging to the Artist generational archetype–see figure 1). This article twists the Fourth Turning theory to fit the pop culture view of generations that considers Generations Alpha and Beta as two distinct demographic cohorts following Gen Z. Introduction: The Fourth Turning It is often said that to predict the future you must understand the past. This sentiment is encapsulated by the theory set forth by US historians William Strauss and Neil