Social Dynamics (I)

So, we live longer. We have offspring later. We live with better health. And we live faster.

Society when we were born has changed significantly when we reach maturity, and more when we reach our social peak (physical and mental capacity, together with our social links and experience), and, sometimes sadly, more when we live our decline.

If our leaders before reached, the same as the average society, their peak at 35 or 40... what if now our ancestors stay longer in power? What if they seize power as before, but stay longer? We then come into strange situations where a generation is lost (like in the British monarchy, where a long-living queen will be replaced by an already old king... with no changes... and no strength, and that will stay in power just long enough to make his heir wait and lose opportunities and strength. Better for everybody to have a young king, skipping Charles, than having him old and lacking the push that accompanies such a long wait to seize power. And a limited power, too.

Luckily, democracy ensures there are chances that we can be governed by younger candidates, but still, with and aging population (in Europe), there are less chances for the young ones... when more changes than ever are required to ensure everybody´s future.

A society is no different from a living being. There are certain dynamics dictated by the individual components. When population grows old, the society tends to behave like an old individual. More decisions are postponed, less lust for emotions, less changes, more control. If society is older now... then its decisions will more likely be those of the old ones. Europe is a good example, again. Whole generations are lost waiting for their opportunity to make changes according to their needs... and they reach power too.

Let´s consider the renewal process, the same as life. Before we replicated in our twenties. Now in our late thirties. And soon in our forties. That implies that we will be older when we educate our children. We are more experienced, yes, but also more distant to our offspring. It means our change dynamics elongate... funny enough, in a moment where so many technological and economic changes ask for a suitable government capable of handling them. And yet... that is not the case.