Editorial: Better Stories Needed - How Meaningful Narratives Can Transform the World

Abstract

The world is going through major upheaval and many people feel drawn to despair. As George Monbiot and others suggest our current problems, as intractable as they may seem, rather point to our lack of imagination. It looks like we are experiencing the phase preceding a major paradigm shift and all the crises that go along with it. The dominant paradigm cannot explain the social anomalies and it appears as if outside events such as terrorist attacks, extreme weather or political unrest force our mindsets to shift. As a typical reaction to such threats, people across the world turn to the old and more familiar paradigms hoping to find comfort. The elections of strongmen across the globe show that humanity’s tribal instincts have kicked into overdrive. Because we lack an alternative narrative that features a universal purpose in a world of globalization, many people seek solace in the soothing stories of a seemingly glorious tribal past. However, our human need for community and purpose will likely not be satisfied by these returns to tribalism in an increasingly interconnected world.

Keywords: Humanistic Management, Paradigm Shift, Purpose, Narratives

JEL Classification: J00, M00, N00, P00