Toward Rules Without Rulers

Governance Must Evolve with Human Complexity

Image by Issa Momani

If humanity is on the cusp of another great transition, we can learn a lot by looking at the ones we’ve already been through.

How did people get from a condition of roaming around on the ancient savanna to looking out of skyscrapers onto Tokyo or Vancouver? What invisible forces drove such change? And if we can begin to see the pattern in those forces, do they offer clues about where we’re going?

We think so.

The following is a visual overview of nine stages in the evolution of governance.