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Another way to phrase this is: From ONE-RIGHT-WAY (traditional, modern, and postmodern) VALUES to MULTIPLE WAYS (integral) is the #1 shift needed for After Capitalism.
Integral values are the first 2nd-tier type to emerge. The tier concept comes from Beck and Cowan’s (1996) Spiral Dynamics. The distinction is that holders of Tier one values believe that their value system is the best and if only everyone else would adopt their values, everything would be great. The 2nd tier values, of which integral is the most prominent type (though tiny at 3-5%), are flexible in their values and recognize that some values fit some situations better than others. In short, they see the value of all values, and do not believe one type is best for everyone. So, Tier 1 values holders believe their way is the right way, and Tier 2 values adopt a more practical, functional fit-to-context approach.
It is really hard to see fundamental change in Tier 1 mindsets that believe their values are the right values for everybody. We see tribalism in play today and the stalemate it engenders. While the overlay is not 100% accurate, it is close enough to say that the reds are mostly traditionals, and the blues are mostly postmoderns. Their percentages in the US are roughly equal, in the mid-20s (it is very difficult to pin down the precise numbers). The long-term trend favors the blues/postmoderns. The moderns, currently the biggest type, are the biggest supporters of capitalism, and are also evenly split: the “declining” industrial manufacturing base moderns lean red and the “emerging” high-tech base lean blue.
Tier 1 is evenly split with each group fighting for its particular view to prevail. Enter the Tier 2 Integrals whose motto is “make a difference.” We need them to reach critical mass to reach After Capitalism, but the pace of values shifts suggests that is a decade or two away. Today they are roughly 3-5% in the US. What is critical mass — 10% 20%? 25%? I’m reminded of Margaret Meade’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Andy Hines
i agree that it is a decent model for depicting conflicting viewpoints and change.
how it is applied to current events is a bit subjective.
doesn’t the future always heavily favor the blues? yes, i think it does unless one abstracts conditions to an overly simplistic degree.
it seems to me that the process of moving forward is very much like that described in gladwell’s “tipping point”. but who will see the weak signals that let us know when it is about to happen?
the blues and reds are mostly equal… i’m not so sure about that.
blues are 1/2 of voters but only 1/3 of america, reds are 1/2 of voters but only 1/3 of america, leaving out about 1/3 of americans that don’t vote…
look for the “tipping point” signals among the 1/3 of americans that typically don’t vote (napolean’s third)… the rural, less educated, and minorities
i kinda wish i’d gotten that futures degree so we could struggle through these topics, though i’m not sure i’d have graduated…