The Fourth Turning is a theory proposed by William Strauss and Neil Howe in their book "The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy". According to the authors, the Fourth Turning is a Crisis, which is an era of destruction, often involving war or revolution, in which institutional life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to a perceived threat to the nations survival. After the crisis, civic authority revives, cultural expression redirects toward community purpose, and people begin to locate themselves as members of a larger group. The Fourth Turning is a part of a larger theory of generational cycles, which suggests that history moves in 80-year cycles, each consisting of four generation-long seasons or "turnings". The winter season is a time of upheaval and reconstruction, which is the fourth turning. The theory predicts that a major crisis will occur somewhere between the years 2005 and 2026. The authors believe that the Millennials have a key role to play during the Fourth Turning, and each generation will be called upon, according to its archetype, to fulfill a unique role in pushing the nation through another great gate of history. The Fourth Turning theory has gained popularity in recent years, and some people believe that the current social and political climate in the United States is evidence that the Fourth Turning is happening.