Are we witnessing the start of The Great Unravelling?

George Floyds tragic death at the hands of American police who pinned him to the ground with a knee in the back of his neck for over eight minutes, has ignited the rage within the angry people. But the battle is fast becoming much more than the death of a single African American.

A contract, governing social behaviour exits between: The Government, The Economy (businesses) and The People. Politicians are adept at balancing the interplaying forces of this social triad. It is a skill they perform every day in the circus of politics.

History shows us that balancing the social contract is never easy (ever tried balancing a triangle?). Get it wrong and the contract between this social triad topples. Think French Revolution, 1917 Russian Revolution, collapse of the USSR, etc.

So, consider, might coronavirus topple governments? Boris Johnson realised the danger after reading the virus report that jarred the U.S. and the U.K. to action.

As the world contemplates life with coronavirus, every government in the world is facing a terrifying balancing act between future-flare ups, a cratering economy and nervous agitated voters. No government wants bodies piling up on the streets, as crippled health services fail to cope with Covid-19. It would be bad for votes. An economy in free fall does not win votes either. Trump cares most about this.

In modern times, as capitalism brought great prosperity and governments took advantage in aligning two forces: The needs of the populous and economic performance. A stable economy equals happy voters. “It’s the economy stupid!” is the widely accepted political maxim — Voters punish governments who preside over a weak economy and re-elect the ones who deliver strong economic growth.

Through policies that support a growing and prosperous economy, governments have been able to “flatten the triangle” into a more easily balanced linear relationship. 

There are further benefits to flattening the triangle: As long as the economy is performing and making people happy, then the government is afforded the freedom and luxury to focus on furthering party policy (e.g. Brexit/Trumpism).

But until a vaccine arrives, saving lives is at odds with saving the economy and, beneath the mixed messages, governments are putting wealth ahead of wellbeing.

This invisible and injurious virus has shattered the alignment between government, the economy and the people. Balancing this social triad is now much more difficult, if not impossible.

We are about to start witnessing a great unravelling. The leaders who are tuned to change will seize opportunity to create a new better world. This is always the case in any revolution. Are you ready to start navigating the perfect storm?

Get the: The Post Lockdown Handbook: How to live with coronavirus and thrive as you navigate the Perfect Storm – Available NOW.

About TomorrowToday Consulting:

 Pioneering Business, as a Force for Good : TomorrowToday Consulting (TTC) is a specialist consultancy partnering with middle market and progressive large organisations to do well, by doing good. We co-develop leadership, purpose, GPS destinations, strategies and the innovation culture that delivers growth and a better future for all stakeholders.

 We excel in the business of releasing human potential, this is where true strategic and competitive advantage exists. At the heart of everything we do is the optimisation of both social and business impact.

 Our customised approach combines deep insights into the dynamics of disruptive forces and megatrends transforming the world with close collaboration at all levels of the client organisation.

TTC is part of TomorrowToday Global. Founded in 2001, and we have helped leaders around the world to take advantage of a changing world.

About Dean van Leeuwen

Dean is one of today's foremost practitioners on disruptive forces, future trends and innovation. Using his models and frameworks, he predicted both Donald Trump and Brexit and for over 12 years he has been warning business leaders about the disruptive impact of pandemics. A successful start-up entrepreneur, Dean is a founding partner of TomorrowToday.Consulting an business which partners with middle market and progressive big business to unlock the potential of businesses as a force for good.

 Dean is available for virtual leadership and executive strategy sessions with any team size.

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