The Third Wave and Beyond: The Evolution of Civilization According to Toffler

This text provides a thorough analysis of Alvin and Heidi Toffler's theory of civilizational waves, presenting human history as a series of groundbreaking shocks. The author focuses on the transition from the Second Wave (the industrial era) to the Third Wave, characterized by the dominance of information, knowledge, and digital technologies. The article discusses in detail the role of artificial intelligence, the processes of demassification, and the emergence of a new social class – the intellectual class. It also points to the need to reform political systems toward networked democracy in the face of the crisis of traditional institutions. This compendium of knowledge is intended for those seeking to understand the mechanisms governing the contemporary pace economy and the directions in which the global information civilization is heading.