1/ Beyond the Horizon
Society re-imagined
“In 2025, 72% of the world’s population (5.7 billion people) lives under authoritarian rule. “
In 2025, 72% of the world’s population (5.7 billion people) lives under authoritarian rule. This shift marks a profound change in the global landscape, indicating that political structures are tightening in many regions. The effects are felt not only through governance but also across societal systems and economies.
The divide in the global economy continues to widen without significant efforts to address it. Economic inequality, often overlooked or underfunded, contributes to a fractured social fabric. As the gap between the wealthy and the disadvantaged deepens, finding common ground becomes more urgent. Elections or polls are not the best indicators for understanding people’s thoughts. Their lifestyle choices, how they spend their money, if they decide move, if they start families, many factors should be monitored to understand how people feel or think.
Society has become hyper-politicized, with divisions that are increasingly entrenched. To move forward, society needs to address the issues of inequality and unfair power structures. Until these are improved, it will be very hard for many people to see positive change in their lives.
Nothing is inevitable; these are societal choices. Much of the discontent is fueled by a sense of mistrust, frustration and uncertainty. In the long term, a government term of four years has less impact than commonly assumed. Democracy will have to change; if approached correctly, it can improve.
Banner image, Untitled by Alicia Mccarthy
Quote Staffan I. Lindberg
1/Democracies Shadow
Freedom enabling unfreedom
Since the financial crisis of 2008, democracy has become weaker in many countries. People are losing faith in working together and in international cooperation. Democracy was once thought to always lead to better results for everyone, but this isn’t always true. Democracy was meant to be a shared space where people agree to uphold common ground, even on issues they may not fully agree with or understand. While democracy can foster freedom and accountability, it can also give rise to populism, where leaders offer simple solutions to complex problems, often appealing to public frustration.
The world’s economy is changing, causing problems for democracies. Many countries are moving away from free trade and starting to protect their markets, leading to higher prices. While democratic governments should listen to the citizens, billionaires and corporations often have more influence over decisions than ordinary people.
Political debates focus on affordability, housing, and immigration without offering long-term solutions. People have lost their vision of the future, and this makes it hard for democracy to work well. Democracy needs people to talk about and plan for the future together. Populism often thrives in such an environment, capitalizing on short-term promises rather than fostering collaborative, future-oriented thinking. When factories close, politicians often blame other countries instead of acting on the real reasons, such as a lack of innovation and vision.
Democracy needs active citizens and strong community groups to work, but these are becoming harder to find. Democracy thrives on mutual accountability, where every citizen plays an active role.
Why this matters
The democratic system that is designed to give people power can also lead to the restriction of freedoms and ignorance of long-term solutions and stability.
Girls of New York/ Richard Kern
Series of polaroid prints, showing the simultaneous presence of progress and resistance of American society and its associated visual languages. See more here
Me The People/ Nadia Urbainati
In this book Nadia agrues that populism doesn’t just oppose democracy but transforms it from within.
Face in the Crowd/ Alex Prager
The installation explores themes of mass culture, identity, and human interaction by showing a big moving crowd and sometimes focuses on one individual. See more here
Crime and Ornament/ Pio Abad
Artwork that brings protest to life by rethinking how text, images, and even neutral tools like chroma key can be used to create opposing viewpoints, spark revolutionary ideas, and challenge dominant narratives. See more here
2/Frames of Perception
The medium is the message
Truth is like a fabric that connects us weaving together facts and the feelings that shape our reality. While lies can take on their form of truth, we must accept that different people experience different realities, influenced by facts and personal engagement. Media plays a pivotal role in shaping our collective understanding through mass culture, creating a shared sense of how we perceive and interact with the world.
This transformation in how truth, trust, and reality are perceived has led to increased public scepticism of established narratives and fragmentation of audiences into micro-cultures and information bubbles. Trust in national news sources has eroded significantly. Nearly 40 per cent of young Americans get their news from influencers, which is growing globally. Perception is constructed through frames that shape how events are seen, interpreted, and defined as truth. By shifting these frames, perceptions of reality can be expanded or altered.
Traditional hierarchical institutions like mainstream media and government have lost their monopoly on information control as technology democratizes access to and the creation of information. This transformation will likely continue reshaping society’s relationship with information and authority. People are critical of opinions in news presentations, leading to a growing preference for authentic, unpolished content.
This development leads to a future where traditional media institutions must adapt or risk becoming irrelevant. Media becoming increasingly personalized and co-created further fragments the shared experience. To address this, society could focus on strengthening media literacy education, developing new models of journalism, and creating platforms that encourage diverse viewpoints while maintaining factual accuracy.
Why this matters
How societies form shared truths shapes a democratized discourse or risks further fragmentation.
Bias Meter/ Los Angeles Times
L.A. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong has announced he will incorporate a bias meter in the paper’s coverage that will be powered by AI. Read more here
3/ Masculine Feminine
Individual identities
Social change, gender dynamics, and the evolving roles of women and men are central to understanding current societal shifts. The leadership cult of figures currently promotes a version of virility that reaffirms masculinity. Men dominate the public sphere in news and technology, and gender constructs are politicized, creating division rather than inclusivity.
Many brands have retreated from social and political issues in recent years, primarily due to fears of alienating specific consumer segments. Trump’s return to office will shift the dynamics of this engagement, leading brands to adopt a more neutral stance in response to the intensified politicization of issues or speak out or change policies in his support. The term “woke” has become a focal point in this struggle, with people exploiting and distorting its meaning for political gain. The word initially represented a commitment to justice, care for people, and respect for individual identities. Staying alert to the justice in the world is vital, as the language surrounding these issues can be manipulated.
The conversation about masculinity needs to evolve beyond outdated ideas. Men face unique struggles, often shaped by societal expectations and stereotypes, where they may encounter discrimination, stigmatization, and pressures to conform. The resurrection of man lies in being a whole man, grounded with many nuances instead of fixed archetypes.
Women are set to have more wealth than men for the first time in history, signalling a potential shift in power dynamics. This change could mark a significant turning point in how both genders contribute to shaping the future, particularly as societal roles continue to evolve.
Why this matters
Understanding the lives of people and social change goes beyond thinking in stereotypes.
You Had to Be a Feminist/ Domestic Data Streamers
The Barcelona exhibition featured an apple symbolizing Original Sin, to show the everyday sexism and challenges of patriarchy. See more here
Gisèle Pelicot/ Vogue Germany
Gisèle Pelicot has been featured on the digital cover of Vogue Germany. This significant moment coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, 2024. Read more here
The Chess Game/ Anna Boghiguian
Artwork that explores themes of conflict, strategy, and power dynamics through the lens of the game of chess. Read more here
4/Social Change
Redefining succes
Growing up in uncertain, threatening times presents challenges and opportunities for young people today. Amid economic and climate pressure, a fractured education system, and the overwhelming influence of technology, they are forced to find alternative pathways to self-fulfilment. Many young people seek joy in their lives, often in the small moments that bring personal satisfaction, whether through creative expression or building communities. Their rejection of all-consuming jobs reflects a search for happiness and fulfilment in ways that align with their values.
This generation is redefining success, challenging norms around work, money, and status. Their style is often rich in references to power, rebellion, and identity, reflecting a desire for autonomy over conformity. Culture has become central to their lives, offering identity, belonging, and agency in an unstable world, while diverse cultural backgrounds provide a broader, more fluid worldview.
As they navigate these turbulent times, young people are crafting a future where personal well-being, purpose, and joy precede traditional societal expectations. They are placing personal well-being, purpose, and joy at the forefront, reshaping what it means to live well.
Financial independence becomes less about owning property and more about owning time and choices. The desire for freedom also intersects with a different approach to living, sustainable choices, local communities, and a commitment to personal growth and happiness. Young people are shaping a reality where independence doesn’t require conformity to outdated systems but rather the courage to innovate and live authentically.
Why this matters
The choices and values of today’s young people are reshaping the future, redefining success and culture.
Mark Eydelshteyn/ Photo by Lindsay Ellar
Eydelshteyn is part of a generation of contemporary actors who have a thoughtful, playful and grounded approach to both acting and life. Read more here
Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US/ Soloviev Foundation
Experience that explores America’s founding pillars of liberty and equality through the lens of individual lived experiences. See more here
Thursday Night Socials/ L.A. Chess Club
Chess club that brings together chess enthusiasts for regular gatherings and events. See more here
Further reading
The Crisis of Culture/ Oliver Roy
Without a shared culture, everything becomes an explicit code of how to speak and act. Identities are now defined by socially fragmenting personal traits, creating affinity-based sub-cultures seeking safe spaces instead of diverse communities. Cohesion is important because it fosters a sense of belonging and mutual understanding, allowing diverse individuals to unite around common values and navigate societal challenges together.
Democracy/ Eleven female writers and thought-leaders
Eleven essays provide a diverse and global perspective on democracy, emphasizing its power to uplift societies and the critical role women play in its preservation and advancement. The female perspective brings their unique experiences, values, and insights that can challenge traditional narratives and foster more inclusive, equitable solutions in shaping societal systems like democracy.
Will the Last Reporter Please Turn Out the Lights?/ Robert W. McChesney & Victor Pickard
The book emphasizes the importance of journalism as a cornerstone of democracy and advocates for reforms to address the industry's challenges. It suggests that while the decline of traditional newspapers is evident, the essence of journalism can be preserved and revitalized through various means, including public funding and policy changes.
Language and Truth/ Jacques Moeschler
Moeschler examines the relationship between language, truth, and communication in the context of the "post-truth" era. Navigating complexity is essential in understanding communication in today's world, where context and intention shape how meaning is conveyed and understood.
Index
The Shifts