As I take a step back and consider the vast amount of thinking I've put into understanding how ideological movements take root and gain traction, I am left with three core pillars that are foundational to this process: the message, the messenger, and the timing. It's like a dance, a synchrony of elements that must converge to create a movement that truly resonates with people.
Pillar #1: The Message
The message, it's at the heart of everything. It carries the ideas, the thoughts, the vision that might ignite a fire in people's hearts, stir their souls, make them say, "Yes, finally someone said it!" Greta Thunberg's potent proclamation about our planet's impending demise, its threatened extinction by corporate greed and disregard, is a message that didn't just resonate, it inspired. It moved millions of young and old to take climate change more seriously.
Similarly, Andrew Yang's message about the importance of UBI and the inevitable displacement of jobs by automation struck a chord with millions. But messages can also be contentious. Andrew Tate's call for men to "man up", his views on women, and his commentary on Western civilization — this was a message that resonated with many, too, but not without stirring controversy.
Pillar #2: The Messenger
Yet, a message alone isn't enough. The world is not short of ideas. What truly matters is who delivers these ideas - the messenger. Greta, young, driven, representing an environmentally conscious Generation Z, appealed to millions. Her steadfast conviction, her commitment as demonstrated by her preference to travel to conferences by boat, these traits amplified her message.
Then there's Andrew Tate. Many have called for men to take more responsibility, yet it was his message that took off. A formidable figure in his own right, fit, charismatic, skilled in his craft, he embodied his message. His ability to captivate audiences, coupled with an abundance of repurposable content, propelled his message further.
Pillar #3: The Timing
Lastly, the importance of timing cannot be underestimated. As much as a message and a messenger matter, their success is often tied to the circumstances of the era they exist in. Consider the messages about America's decline, they’ve existed for years, yet they have gained significant traction recently due to the widely discussed failures of the American government and the growing disillusionment with the system. Similarly, climate change has been a topic for decades, yet Greta's message resonated more than ever due to a newfound awareness of our system's destructive tendencies.
Reflecting on all of this, I am reminded that the creation of an ideological movement isn't a linear process. It requires a careful consideration of the message, the qualities and characteristics of the messenger, and the timing of their emergence. The architects of such movements, who can expertly navigate these elements, hold a significant role in shaping our societies. As I continue to delve into this, I hope to better understand how such movements come to be, and how they influence us in profound ways.