Actions

One unexpectedly useful aspect of the Strauss & Howe model is that it recognizes that history involves more than the actions of the government. Looking recently at Second Turnings (Awakenings) it becomes clear that what government is doing during those periods might be less important - may even be beside the point.

One can describe Vietnam in terms of assaults and holding actions and tactical victories or strategic defeats, but it is difficult to comprehend what happened without also looking at student movements, political changes, and public perception. By comparison, a history of World War II that only looked at military concerns would still be workably complete. While there could be questions worth asking - what anti-war protests were there? What did Manhattan Project workers think of firebombing Japanese cities? - the answers wouldn't largely change one's understanding of the conflict. In an Awakening and more so Unravelings, non-government actions are often where one finds the heart of the period.

What do non-government actions mean? They can include actions by individuals or by groups that are not directly affiliated with a government. During an Awakening, it's common to see people working together in large groups - the March on Washington, the Moratorium to End the War  -  in order to effect changes in what the government does. Individuals start to be come more significant - i.e. beyond their role as participants in larger groups - as the Unraveling takes shape. Wars can be seen in terms of particular generals, such as Schwarzkopf and Powell, while single people can distinguish themselves as entrepreneurs, inventors, and business leaders, and can be seen taking actions that will change the world as thoroughly as entire governments do during the Fourth.