The Great Decline: From the Era of Hope and Progress to the Age of Fear and Rage

John Bone argues that conditions in turbocapitalist and media-dominated societies have created a toxic environment that is damaging to mental and physical health, leaving us ill-prepared to deal with AI and automation and climate change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2024
Publisher: Bristol University Press

It is becoming increasingly apparent that many once-stable societies in wealthy developed countries are experiencing a state of "permacrisis" characterized by an increasingly angry and irrational social and political culture that is undermining the peace and stability of our societies and democratic institutions, from the local to the global. Applying an original biosocial approach (the social map), and drawing on ideas and evidence from sociology, history, political economy, psychology, neuroscience, and epigenetics, John Bone argues that conditions in our turbocapitalist and increasingly estranged, media-dominated societies have created a toxic environment that is deeply damaging to our mental and physical health. As well as shedding new light on our current troubles, Bone also outlines why this leaves us ill-prepared to deal with two of the greatest challenges confronting humanity: the rise of AI and automation and how we deal with climate change.

The social map is a unique approach to understanding the social and political landscape of our world. It combines ideas and evidence from sociology, history, political economy, psychology, neuroscience, and epigenetics to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors that shape our societies and our lives.

One of the key insights of the social map is that our turbocapitalist and increasingly estranged, media-dominated societies have created a toxic environment that is deeply damaging to our mental and physical health. Bone argues that this environment is characterized by a sense of disconnection, anxiety, and fear, which can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including mental health problems, physical health problems, and social unrest.

One of the primary causes of this toxic environment is the increasing concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a small elite. Bone argues that this elite has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and in suppressing any challenges to their power. This can lead to a sense of disempowerment and frustration among the general population, which can in turn lead to social unrest and political instability.

Another factor that contributes to the toxic environment is the increasing influence of media and technology on our lives. Bone argues that the media and technology have become increasingly powerful and influential, and that they have been used to manipulate and control the public. This can lead to a sense of disinformation and misinformation, which can undermine our trust in our institutions and our leaders.

In addition to these factors, Bone also argues that the rise of AI and automation is a major challenge that we face as a society. He argues that AI and automation are likely to lead to significant job losses and economic inequality, and that they are also likely to have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. Bone argues that we need to develop a new approach to work that is more flexible and adaptable, and that we need to invest in education and training to ensure that people have the skills they need to succeed in the new economy.

Finally, Bone argues that we need to deal with climate change as a global challenge. He argues that climate change is a threat to our planet and to our way of life, and that we need to take action to reduce our carbon footprint and to mitigate the effects of climate change. Bone argues that we need to develop a new approach to energy that is more sustainable and that we need to invest in research and development to find new solutions to the problem of climate change.

In conclusion, the social map provides a unique approach to understanding the social and political landscape of our world. It argues that our turbocapitalist and increasingly estranged, media-dominated societies have created a toxic environment that is deeply damaging to our mental and physical health. Bone argues that we need to develop a new approach to work that is more flexible and adaptable, that we need to invest in education and training to ensure that people have the skills they need to succeed in the new economy, and that we need to deal with climate change as a global challenge. By doing so, we can create a more peaceful and stable world for ourselves and for future generations.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529213034