The Managerial Revolution: What Is Happening in the World

As we begin our journey through this profound analysis, it is essential to understand that the Second World War was not merely a clash of armies or a diplomatic struggle over borders. This war was the visible manifestation of a deeper social revolution, a transformation of society itself. The traditional view confines war to military and political terms, but here we are invited to look beyond the battlefield, to the seismic shifts beneath the surface of nations and economies. Imagine society as a vast clockwork, where every cog represents institutions—economic, political, cultural. In times of peace, these cogs turn smoothly, maintaining the social order. But during a social revolution, the clockwork is shattered, and new mechanisms replace the old.

This revolution is characterized by three intertwined phenomena: a drastic change in social institutions such as property relations and political regimes, a parallel shift in cultural beliefs and institutions, and the emergence of a new ruling class that replaces the old. For example, the transition from feudalism to capitalism centuries ago was not a simple modification but a complete overhaul of society’s foundations.

Applying this lens to the present, the war we witness is actually a phase in this revolutionary process. The conflict is the storm that reveals the changing winds of social power and economic control. It is crucial to recognize that the forces driving this revolution are not confined within national boundaries. Germany’s role, though dramatic, is but one chapter in a global story where technological advancements, economic interdependence, and cultural shifts interlace to reshape the world.

Consider the staggering emotional impact of war, which often blinds us to the deeper currents. Yet, if a social revolution is underway, the war is subordinate to it, a chapter rather than the entire book. This perspective invites us to see the war as a symptom, not the cause, of the profound transformations in society’s structure.

As we close this first chapter of understanding, let us remember that social revolutions are marked by rapid rates of change that transform the very framework of society. The current era is one such period, where the old order is crumbling, and a new social structure is emerging. Recognizing this truth prepares us to explore the nature of the society we are leaving behind and the new order rising before us.

Let us now turn to examine the world we lived in, the capitalist society that preceded this revolution, to better grasp what is being transformed.