I think it went down like this, for centuries where we forced to live together, we needed one-another to make do especially in the daily live. Needed not in an emotional sense, but in a very concrete and physical way - it was a question of survival. Marriage was a lot more than love - more like a cooperative (thats not best foundation for a happy marriage). Houses where small and people where cramped together with no private space and labor was hard. That we dreamed of freedom and private space and independence is no mystery. Then came the possibility to become more independent. First we got free from the large extended family, then later from the the closer family itself. We cut away connections because we could, because they where not needed anymore (this only the story of the western people, most people of the 3rd world still regard the extended family as close family).
The transition to a sustainable future will bring us closer together - for better and for worse. The current state of affairs is mostly characterized by fragmentation. We can (could) live a whole life not knowing or talking to the next door neighbor and we let the state and firms take care of everyday needs. I am pretty sure we are seeing the beginning of a smaller state and fever companies - not because I want to see it, but as a consequence of less resources. That will put the local community and family back in the center and that will be a huge transition. Being forced together (again) will create conflicts and it will take time to realize the need for a closer local community.
The energy matrix.
There is some very clear connections between how much energy a we use and what the society looks like.
Less energy <----------------------------------->
More energy
Simple structure <-----------------------------> Complex structure
Local foundation <----------------------------> Global foundation
All rounders <------------------------------------> Specialists
Shorter connections <-----------------------> Longer connections
Harsher justice <-------------------------------> Mercy justice
Long term investments <-------------------> Short term investments
Small government <--------------------------> Big government
Big family <---------------------------------------> No family
Less taxfunded social security <---------> Taxfunded social security
Very little private loans <------------------> Bloated private loans
I'm not very optimistic in believing that the state or government is going to "do the right thing" and begin the transition to a more stable and sustainable society in a timely and thorough fashion. The state and government IS going to loose power in this transition and people ARE going to be very critical to the role of the state and government. Since WW2 has the state been able to get involved in every thinkably aspect of the citizens life. I don't have an opinion about the size or role of the state, that is beyond the point, the point is that the state have no possibility to maintain this omnipresence it have now. What should be a natural way of scaling back the state (and commune) by looking at the path of expansion, can very likely be that the state (and commune) abandons its primary services (schools, hospitals, collective transportation..) to be able to keep the prestiges areas (diplomacy, universities, trades agreements, EU..), resulting in a distant top heavy organization not delivering the demanded services and that will deepens the split between the citizens and its state.
Local community is going to be the tool that will make everyday life function - I don't believe someone is not going to come
to the rescue.
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