Lockstep

As outlined in the Rockefeller Foundation’s “Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development” report that were published in 2010, Lockstep envisions a hypothetical future in which a pandemic leads to significant social, economic, and political changes. This scenario was part of a set of narratives developed to explore various potential global futures.

In the Lockstep scenario, a fictional pandemic emerges, causing widespread illness and death. The response to the pandemic involves swift and severe measures, including the imposition of authoritarian control and the restriction of individual freedoms. Governments around the world implement strict measures to contain the virus, such as mandatory quarantines, biometric IDs for all citizens, and increased surveillance.

While the pandemic is eventually brought under control, the response has lasting effects on society. Governments maintain a high level of control over their citizens, and international cooperation becomes strained. The scenario explores the trade-offs between security and personal freedoms, raising questions about how societies might respond to a global crisis and what measures might be taken in the interest of public health and safety.

We are living in an age that, when looked back upon, will be referred to as “the age of coincidence”.

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