– The newsletter is published and distributed by Kairos Future International AB

Issue: 7, year 2008
Date: July 25, 2008

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KAIROS WORLDWIDE: TRIBALIZATION

 
News:
-    Urban tribes in Mexico – why do they beat the emos?
-    Spain: Young Hedonists or Young Entrepreneurs?
-    “New good men” – Made in China?
-     Malaysian youth – family oriented collectivists

Upcoming events:
-    Join the 1st European Innovation Movement Symposium in Madrid, 6-7 October!

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Dear reader,

In these times of globalization, shrinking distances and blurring of cultures, how do young people choose to define themselves? How do they to find their place in society?
 
Individualization, post-modernism and tribalization are perceived as the most certain and important trends among youth today, according to a recent lifestyle survey conducted by Kairos Future and its Futuretrackers network. In this issue we take a closer look at one of them: Tribalization, on three different continents. Tribalization means that life-style based social groups are becoming increasingly common. Are perhaps these global cultural expressions more crucial for young people's identity today than the national or religious tradition they belong to?

Kairos Future’s Research Associates in Spain, Mexico and Malaysia give us examples of recent developments and debates on the topic of urban tribes in their respective country.

Urban lifestyles in China are evolving and trends such as individualization and post-modernism are bringing about changes in the ways young men and women choose to lead their lives. Read more about the “New good men” soon pushing prams in Beijing!

Enjoy your reading!

Best regards,
Sofia Johnsson
Editor
Kairos Future

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NEWS

Urban tribes in Mexico – why do they beat the emos?
By: Jonna Olsson Engström

Life-style based social groups are becoming increasingly common in Mexico, at least according to the number of newspaper articles published in the last few months. This spring, the media have been flooded with headlines about the phenomenon of urban tribes, such as fresas, darkis, punketos, darketos, salseros, poperos, rastafaris, ravers, eskatos, hiphoperos, and, above all, emos.

The Mexican emos have had a tough time this year. There are a lot of urban tribes in Mexico, and, until now, the different groups have been if not welcomed then at least accepted. But for some reason, the emos are victims of violent outbursts, and it seems like all the other groups agree – the emos are a problem. But why is that?

Read the full article here!

Jonna Olsson Engström is Kairos Future’s Research Associate in Mexico. For further information, please contact Ms. Olsson Engström by e-mail!
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Spain: Young Hedonists or Young Entrepreneurs?
By: Heléne Olsson

Will the future Spanish Youth develop in different paces? How will this impact on Career, Living and Life Styles?

According to the survey Global Youth performed by Kairos Future in 2007, Spain was the country in Europe with highest bipolarization between Young Hedonists and Young Future Entrepreneurs.

Tribalization exists in Spain in big urban areas like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Sevilla, but is still not as fragmented or dominating as in other European countries, showing more homogeneous youth life styles and big groups. However, the big volume of youth is bipolarized in welfare between local low ambitioned youth and global high ambitioned youth.

Read the full article here!

Heléne Olsson is heading Kairos Future's Barcelona branch. For further information, please contact Mrs. Olsson by e-mail!

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“New good men” – Made in China?
By: Marie-Claire Maxwell

Xinhaonanren, or “new good men”, are slowly becoming available for Chinese women who know what they want. With more money and challenging jobs, women are postponing marriage and exploring new family constellations. Some are simply demanding divorce from the old stereotype men, as increasing divorce rates prove. Young people’s opportunities to live the life they dream about are increasing.
This new breed of sensitive men, who are playing with children and shopping groceries, represent a change in a society where traditional gender roles left child raising and housework to their wives.

Read more about the new Chinese man here!

Marie-Claire Maxwell is Kairos Future's Research Associate in China. For further information, please contact her by e-mail!

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Malaysian youth – family oriented collectivists
By: Per H Nilsson

Tribalization exists in Malaysia among young people but is not as common as in the West. In general, individualism is not encouraged in society, family and friends set the standards for acceptable behavior. This is also emphasized in the schooling system where the students are seen as a collective and not as individuals.

But there are examples of Tribalization even in Malaysia, one being the notorious “Mat Rempit”...

Read the full article here!

Per H Nilsson is Kairos Future's Research Associate in Malaysia. For further information please contact him by e-mail!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Join the 1st European Innovation Movement Symposium in Madrid, 6-7 October!

Mats Lindgren, CEO Kairos Future Group, will be joining a prestigious panel of speakers in Madrid October 6-7.

Mats is pleased to share the speaker platform with senior executives from leading organizations that have adopted a proven innovation and strategy execution framework, including:  Google, Infosys, Orange Buzz/France Telecom, Telefónica, Crédit Agricole and NH Hotels, among others, realizing impressive results.

In addition to sharing the first-hand experiences of these innovative organizations, you will gain an understanding of the INNOVATION MOVEMENT model developed by Palladium Group – led by acknowledged international authorities on strategy execution, Drs Robert Kaplan and David Norton -- and Venkat Ramaswany and Francis Gouillart, founders of the Experience Co-Creation Partnership.

Please visit www.en.innovationmovement.com or contact Carol Baines by e-mail  for the full agenda!

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Kairos Future International AB is a Swedish futures research and strategy consulting firm that helps companies understand and shape their future. We have done youth surveys and values research for over a decade and possess unique methods to assess futures scenarios.