The Age of Uncertainty

Disruption, Democracy and the Global Future

Abstract

In her book The Great Wave: The Era of Radical Disruption and the Rise of the Outsider (2024), Michiko Kakutani analyzes a global scenario marked by interconnected crises – political, economic, social and technological. Using the metaphor of Hokusai’s engraving The Great Wave off Kanagawa, the author discusses the volatility and uncertainty of contemporary times, highlighting the rise of outsiders and the breakdown of traditional institutions. She argues that the advancement of technology has decentralized access to information and driven social movements, but has also increased disinformation and political extremism. The growing polarization reflects the expansion of the Overton Window, with radical ideas becoming part of the dominant discourse. Meanwhile, authoritarianism and populism threaten democracy, as evidenced by the attack on the Capitol in 2021. Despite this panorama, Kakutani emphasizes the resilience and potential of crises as drivers of transformation. Movements such as Black Lives Matter and climate change protests exemplify decentralized resistance against democratic setbacks. However, fragmentation and lack of regulation of technology pose challenges to building a more equitable future. This reinforces the importance of adaptation and innovation to face the VICA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) era. Society’s response to the current turbulence will be decisive in shaping a more democratic and sustainable world.