America’s generational cycle in less than 335 words
January 22nd, 2009
So this post is here for two reasons: One, I found a creepy video on Dr. Melissa Clouthier’s page she had some interesting things to say about. Two, I want to see if I understand pingbacks correctly. So if you’re reading this, Dr. C, please let me know.
Generation WE: The Movement Begins… from Generation We on Vimeo.
America’s generational cycle in less than 335 words
According to William Strauss and Neil Howe, American generations follow a four-cycle progression: idealist, reactive, civic, and adaptive. Idealist generations tend to be full of creative but self-absorbed political and moral absolutists. Obviously the baby boomers are idealist. So is FDR’s generation.
A reactive generation which is much more individualistic and cynical follows. You wouldn’t know it from the video, but Generation X actually comes after the boomers. Reactives grow up rejecting their elder’s glaze-eyed idealism, and tend to be more pragmatic than idealists. They’re also less concerned about their social status. George Washington was part of a reactive generation.
Reactives are followed by a civic generation. Today’s civic generation, called the millennials, actually started popping out in 1982. They’re called the millennials because the first ones graduated high school in 2000. Members of civic generations tend to be upbeat and eschew labels. These guys are our institution builders. Ronald Reagan was part of a civic generation.
Last and least are adaptive generations, which flood America with sheltered youths who grow up to be sensitive elders. This seems to be the type of generation that’s being alluded to in the video—the real millennials started becoming old enough to vote years ago. As of right now, the last complete adaptive generation, the aptly named “silent” generation, hasn’t produced any presidents. John McCain may have been their last chance. Adaptives are followed by idealists who rebel against their parent’s complacency, and so on.
The problem with the real millennial generation is that like all civic generations, they have a strong collectivist reflex. This makes them susceptible to charismatic leaders (see: FDR, Obama). They’re not concerned with ideology, which is refreshing but also troubling. For instance, they don’t understand why communism was so bad, and aren’t equipped to recognize if their “post-partisan” behavior actually mirrors the behavior of say, Italy in the 1930’s. Energetic and arrogant, they make great soldiers (The “greatest generation” was a civic one) but they’re also perfectly poised to repeat history’s mistakes.