Why culture may be our most powerful lever for progress

Before we can build the future, we have to imagine it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• In this op-ed, Beatrice Erkers argues that progress begins with culture: the stories, symbols, and shared visions that make certain futures feel worth building.

• She explores how cultural forces like memes and movies act as “invisible infrastructure,” shaping technology, policy, and ambition long before they materialize in the real world.

• According to Erkers, we must deliberately invest in a culture of hope — one that inspires creation rather than fear of the future — to drive meaningful progress.