The Fourth Turning

The Fourth Turning is a theory developed by authors William Strauss and Neil Howe, suggesting that history cycles through four generational phases or "turnings." Each turning lasts about 20-25 years and shapes societal attitudes and behaviors. The four phases are: the High (optimism and growth), the Awakening (spiritual re-evaluation), the Unraveling (individualism and decline), and the Fourth Turning (crisis and upheaval). The Fourth Turning is seen as a period of significant conflict and transformation, often resulting in the redefinition of societal structures, as new leadership emerges to create a fresh order from the chaos.