Abstract: This article examines how big data can inform and challenge established theories and future visions of society. Utilising the most recent version of the arguably largest free online corpus, the Google Books corpus (version 20200217), we replicate and enhance Roth et al.’s (2019a) systems-theoretical methodology for analysing macro social trends. Thus extending the sample period into the postmillennium era, we detect tectonic shifts in macro social trends that are likely to be as consequential as the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. We conclude that a ‘Next Theory’ is required to overcome analytical biases to political and economic trends and to remain sensitive to current and potential future changes in other domains of society, including health.

Keywords: functional differentiation, Google Books (version 20200217), replication study, social change, social theory.

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Recommended citation: Roth S., Mansur J., Sales A., Zazar K., Dahms H., Arnold T., and Valentinov V. (in press), Big data insights into social macro trends: Expanding the horizon (1800-2018), Systems Research and Behavioral Sciences, DOI: 10.1002/sres.3175 [SSCI 1.80, Scopus Q2, CABS**].