Trend Megatrend 1: Social change and diversification of values

Summary

The first of five megatrends confirmed by the foresight committee concerns simultaneous change in social structure and values. Technological progress, demographic change and growing diversity are expected to deepen inequality and erode trust, weakening social cohesion. The megatrend also covers the way multiple, compounding risks become a routine threat in everyday life. Its key terms are a crisis of trust, social inclusion, division, inequality and the normalisation of risk. It groups three trends and eleven issues, from polarisation to the globalisation of risk. Themes such as the crisis of democracy and political polarisation, dropped as a stand-alone candidate, are handled within it.