Turnings

I watched a video recently about the Strauss-Howe generational theory which describes an 80 to 100 year cycle for the repeating of American and western history in general. Assuming it is correct we are nearing the end of a cycle which began in 1945 at the end of World War II and signaled the start of a boom. 

During this cycle there are supposedly 4 distinct "turnings" called the high, the awakening, the unraveling and finally the crisis. 1945 to 1963 was the first turning which culminated in the Kennedy assassination. 1963 to 1980 was the awakening during which women's liberation movement, Stonewall and the hippie movement happened. 1980 to 2008 was the unraveling which was kicked off by the Reagan election. The start of the crisis turning was the global economic crisis of 2008. 

If one goes back about 100 years from end of WWII you get the American Civil War and about 80 before that you arrive at the Revolutionary War. It may not be perfect science but it does align well with the idea of history recycling itself which seems to definitely be a thing. 

We see autocratic rule cede to more benign forms as well as times of economic prosperity giving way to austerity. 

If this theory holds true we are headed for a punctuation point (hopefully not a world war) by about 2030 to be followed by a renaissance where we re-enter a new period of human prosperity and peace.