Collapse
Cracks In The Empire?
Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns Germs, and Steel has another examination of human history called Collapse.
As the ominous title suggests this is the story of how and why societies fail.
He states explicitly that he does not believe that the American Empire is doomed to decline. Yet his formula for the collapse of societies throughout world history does present some clear warning signals for the future of America.
Diamond lists five major factors he believes leads to the demise of a society:
1. Environmental Damage
2. Climate Change (both natural and man-caused)
3. Hostile Neighbors
4. Friendly Trade Partners (or lack thereof)
5. Society’s response to environmental problems
To many, this would seem to describe the United States as we get started in the 21st Century. This may be a book some of our country’s leaders should be taking a close look at.
Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns Germs, and Steel has another examination of human history called Collapse.
As the ominous title suggests this is the story of how and why societies fail.
He states explicitly that he does not believe that the American Empire is doomed to decline. Yet his formula for the collapse of societies throughout world history does present some clear warning signals for the future of America.
Diamond lists five major factors he believes leads to the demise of a society:
1. Environmental Damage
2. Climate Change (both natural and man-caused)
3. Hostile Neighbors
4. Friendly Trade Partners (or lack thereof)
5. Society’s response to environmental problems
To many, this would seem to describe the United States as we get started in the 21st Century. This may be a book some of our country’s leaders should be taking a close look at.
posted by Steve Trumbull | 3/04/2005
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