As a science, futurology is still in its generational period. Futurology may be defined as scientific analysis of multiple variables in order to realize a high probability of the manifestation of a specific set of variables within an event horizon - gathering enough data to predict an event. A basal paradigm is a foundational belief system.
Every civilization is built upon one or more basal paradigms.
These are the primary determiners of the specific nature of civilizations. Note that the ideological basal paradigms presented are three-layered. The bottom layer indicates the condition or theory upon which the entire paradigm is based. The third, top layer indicates the form that the original ideas take after they have been co-opted and institutionalized. Further, it should be observed that once a paradigmatic structure is abandoned by the power priesthood that commandeering it, it becomes, in itself, rather benign.