Cultural Evolution

Cultural Evolution: People's Motivations are Changing, and Reshaping the World By Ronald Inglehart, Cambridge University Press, 2018. The way people live and behave is shaped by how secure their survival is. For most of history, this was precarious, leading to a focus on group solidarity, rejection of outsiders, and obedience to strong leaders. However, when survival becomes more secure, openness to change, diversity, and new ideas increases. This shift has been evident in the postwar era, with cultural changes, environmentalism, and the spread of democracy emerging as a result. In recent decades, however, diminishing job security and rising inequality have led to an authoritarian reaction. A comprehensive analysis of more than 100 countries reveals that people's motivations and behavior are closely tied to their perception of survival security. This book presents a new, empirically-tested version of modernization theory, explaining the rise of environmentalist parties, gender equality, and same-sex marriage. Through this lens, Inglehart explores how modernization changes societies in predictable ways, shedding light on the complex dynamics driving cultural evolution.