Alvin Toffler develops a concept that our world and society, particularly our economic progression, is composed of three ôwaves.ö The first wave was the agricultural wave that lasts for thousands of years. Then came the second wave, the industrial wave that has only been operative for the last 300 years.
It is TofflerÆs contention that the second wave, industrialization, has already peaked, and is no longer meeting the needs of the populace. He cites the great diversities now present in our societies and says that the limited multinational corporations cannot deliver to the consumers these diverse needs. Consequently, Toffler is consumed with what he terms the third wave, the wave that replaces industrialism, as we have known it.
It is at this point that Toffler leaves this reader confused, as he is apparently confused as well, on just what the third wave really is. He blithely lumps the Communist ôworld,ö the Socialist ôworld,ö and the Capitalist ôworldö all into one lump of outdated industrialism. He then goes into long expositions on how all of these entities will have to reckon with the ôreplacementö for industrialism in the third wave.
The weakness in the book is that he never goes beyond a whole host of vague notions on what the third wave is. He alludes to better decision-making, a more accommodating corporation, or socialist organization, sprinkled with sentimental thoughts of a ôcottage electronics economyö with a sense of community, as in ôthe good old days.ö It is very doubtful that this will come to pass, despite TofflerÆs contention that it will, or that he can will it, which he canÆt.
The book begins logically with the first wave, which was the invention of agriculture, beginning some ten thousand years ago. Then came the second wave, the industrial revolution, which only began about 300 years ago. As with so many phenomena, how or why the industrial revolution began when it d...