Storm Before the Calm

An illuminating, provocative new book by the master geopolitical forecaster and New York Times bestselling author of The Next 100 Years. George Friedman turns to the future of the United States, predicting that the 2020s will bring dramatic upheaval and reshaping of government, foreign policy, economics and culture. Examining the cycles through which the United States has developed, matured and solidified, Friedman breaks down the coming years in thrilling detail. American history is governed by cycles - an eighty-year 'institutional cycle' that has defined the nation politically, and a fifty-year 'socio-economic cycle' that has seen the formation of the industrial classes, baby boomers and the middle classes. These two cycles are converging on the late 2020s, when many of these foundations will change. The United States will have to endure upheaval and possible conflict, but also, ultimately, increased strength and stability. Friedman's analysis covers the size and scope of the federal government, the future of marriage and the social contract, shifts in corporate structures, and new cultural trends based on longer life expectancies. The result is a riveting account of current circumstances and the political upheavals that will pave the way for a new era of American prosperity and power.