Interesting piece. It will take some time to digest.
I wonder about the arrow of causation for conformity back in the 40's. This essay describes WWII as a spark of a generation of conformity (preceded by the New Deal for some). But it's really hard to imagine modern society signing on to a world war. What's to stop parents afraid of vaccinations from taking their draft-age children to New Zealand?
Was there something else that was already more conformist? Or was there another proximate cause, maybe even one as simple as a perceived global threat (communism, fascism) combined with a lack of individual physical mobility?
The essay is good and makes a strong point in and of itself, but I wonder if there's other variables it (and I) are missing.
If pg is reading, one piece of concrete feedback:
> the LBO wave?
LBO wasn't defined in the text previously and I had to google it (it's leveraged buy-out).
> What's to stop parents afraid of vaccinations from taking their draft-age children to New Zealand?
This reminds me of something a friend of mine told me over Christmas: Her 65-year-old uncle is not currently allowed to travel abroad from Ukraine because 25 years ago he was an Army officer and anyone with military experience is being held in reserve. So the answer to your question is simply "police at the borders".
really hard to imagine modern society signing on to a world war
Military service used to be seen as an obligation and an honorable thing to do, and wars were seen as being a necessary part of defending one's country and way of life or eradicating great evil.
That fell apart after Korea and especially Vietnam, which were perhaps unnecessary and certainly bungled by politicians. This forever changed the trust and confidence of the public in politicians who send young people into battle.
I wonder about the arrow of causation for conformity back in the 40's. This essay describes WWII as a spark of a generation of conformity (preceded by the New Deal for some). But it's really hard to imagine modern society signing on to a world war. What's to stop parents afraid of vaccinations from taking their draft-age children to New Zealand?
Was there something else that was already more conformist? Or was there another proximate cause, maybe even one as simple as a perceived global threat (communism, fascism) combined with a lack of individual physical mobility?
The essay is good and makes a strong point in and of itself, but I wonder if there's other variables it (and I) are missing.
If pg is reading, one piece of concrete feedback:
> the LBO wave?
LBO wasn't defined in the text previously and I had to google it (it's leveraged buy-out).