Kaleidic Society: Entrepreneurial Plans, Societal Change, and Constillactical Politics

A kaleidic society is one exemplified by unexpected patterns of change. Associated with the works of George Shackle and Ludwig Lachmann, a kaleidic society describes market processes as driven extensively by entrepreneurial novelty. This paper seeks to elaborate upon the kaleidic society notion, specifically applying it to the study of social change. Actions undertaken by individuals and a range of collectives, such as nonprofit organizations, interest groups, social movements, and so on, within the social realm emergently bringing forth complex adjustments, if not transformations, to social practices and values. The extent to which these societal changes take place are influenced by how institutions and norms allow for diverse and open forms of expression, and, relatedly, the extent to which novelties are frustrated by social contestations as well as effects of time and uncertainty in influencing social plans. In this paper not only are the obvious kaleidical tensions between social tradition and change discussed, but the implications of policy in affecting rates and forms of social change. Institutions can provide some guidance in proceeding with entrepreneurial plans contributing toward social change, but institutions themselves are amenable to change in kaleidic society. The concept of “constillaxy” is introduced to illustrate how certain institutions enable voluntaristic collective organizing with the aim of delivering more satisfactory social outcomes for individuals, families, and communities, or at least allowing them to achieve aspirations. The constillactical vision of institutional variation within kaleidic society is contrasted with corrective public policies depriving individual liberties and generating additional social turbulence.

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