Generations: A Closer Look

The idea that people can be divided into different generations shapes our thinking and our use of language. And yet the exact meaning of this term is contentious: when we speak of a generation, we throw millions and millions of individuals into the same pot, with a collective label often emblazoned on the lid. But what different levels of meaning does the term “generation” contain? What actually connects us with those who were born and grew up at the same time as us? How does generational thinking differ in different parts of the world? What constitutes a generational change, and when would be the ideal time for it? We discuss whether and how generational categories can help us to understand current challenges with Lithuanian futurologist Monika Bielskyte, Nigerian communication expert Maryam Laushi, US psychiatrist and happiness researcher Robert Waldinger, and Luxembourgish science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar.

Host: Johanna M. Keller