Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

slowly leads to the practice whereby social and professional opportunitiesare inherited from the parents for the largest part of the population. Shiftingbetween the classes is only possible for the most talented individuals.Brain SweatshopRecovery measures for the 2010 economic depression fail and the westerneconomies prove to be unsustainable. A prolonged slowdown of theglobal economy leads to the domino effect of collapsing western economies,which kills western capitalism. Chinese capitalism is the new form of internationaltrade and business. Western countries try to keep the researchand educational level high to compete with the Chinese but it is not quitesuccessful. Finland, as well as other European countries, become a cheap‘brain sweatshop’ for Asian investors and leaders. The educated Finnishworking force mainly produces semi-demanding design and engineeringsolutions and services that can be easily electronically transferred formone place to another. The most talented individuals move to Asia for bettercareer opportunities. Western Europe becomes something like India wasfor Westerners at the beginning of the millennium. Less educated youngFinns find it difficult to accommodate themselves to working life. There isa very high level of youth unemployment, which becomes very expensivefor the government at the time. Also, a critical mass of frustrated youthsbecomes violent, paralysing many societal traditions and structures.Generation ChangeBy the end of the 2040's, most of the baby boomer’s generation havepassed away. Along with them disappears the hegemony of a generationwho has had a notable impact in society, and who have held widely acceptedcommon values and beliefs. The relatively homogenous Finnish identitydeteriorates and is replaced by subcultures and "value shopping." Peopleidentify themselves more and more through subcultures and peer groups,such as music style fan groups and other entertainment fan groups (e.g.manga); professional groups; hobby groups; life-situations (e.g. Young families);or political passions. People tend to switch these ‘reference groups’very fast. International companies and brands can establish a central positionas the symbol of certain groups. There is no uniform value basis orleading institutions in society, but rather a puzzle of multiple pieces thatinteract. The life circles of different groups become more isolated and anationwide common experience of ’being Finnish’ does not exist – it is noteven yearned for except in marginal groups.End Of Party PoliticsThe turn-out of voters in elections continues to decrease, as well as themembership of political parties. Traditional parties lose their legitimacyand single-issue movements become more active players in political decisionmaking. There are a variety of issues attracting a critical mass to estab-194