Press releases of Europa-Universität Flensburg (EUF)

The initial idea for the book came to Emanuel Deutschmann durign a seaside camping trip. In the fall of 2020, just before the start of the second COVID wave, he began reflecting on the escalation of various challenges: the pandemic, ecological crises, economic growth, traffic congestion and pollution, and international mobility. All of these phenomena, he observed, follow an exponential growth pattern: a given quantity increases by a constant factor per unit of time. While apparently harmless at first, the curve takes off dramatically after a certain point.

In his book, Die Exponentialgesellschaft (The Exponential Society) the sociologist examines the data behind these various crises, looking at them through an interdisciplinary lens rather than in isolation. By analyzing empirical data from more than eighty exponential trends, he is able to offer a broad societal perspective on the challenges of our time.

“When we look at today’s global society, we see emergent challenges and problems appearing after a phase of continued exponential growth. I refer to this as the ‘exponential society,’ (Exponentialgesellschaft)” Deutschmann explains. “These interlinked crises overwhelm both individuals and political institutions. My view is that exponential growth shapes key sectors in ways that call into question the survival of society — not only in its current form, but altogether,” he states, underscoring the urgency of the issue.

Deutschmann offers a vast, panoramic picture of this exponential society, explaining which dynamics are driving existing phenomena. In the final section of the book, he outlines ways to stabilize current conditions and explores how to achieve a form of growth that both aligns with material resources and aims to achieve stable, secure, and sustainable conditions.

“It was also important to me to write a nonfiction book that can make this complex topic accessible to everyone. As a sociologist, I’m drawn to developing a stability-oriented approach as an alternative to the expansionist ‘business as usual’ mindset,” Deutschmann says of the book's sweeping view of society.