I would like to see them do as the British Empire did, and (not diminishing the acheivement of Ghandi et al) retreat to their borders and allow the new powers to rise. They don't seem to have 'being humble' on their list of values though. We might have to go through a world war for that re-ordering. That will suck.
Do they need to fall to anyone? Can't the economy just collapse - debt etc - and they no longer be the great superpower? Another superpower will emerge pretty fast.
What exactly does it mean for an empire to fall? Mr Gibbon said Rome "declined and fell" - it gradually became less powerful over a number centuries, its borders shrinking, until eventually its citadels got invaded - Rome and Ravenna in the 500s CE, Constantinople not until the 1400s and some incredibly clumsy crusaders. The British so far have done better because the heart of their empire is on an island. They still have their empire but it's not as big as it used to be - Wales, Scotland, a bit of Ireland and nominal influence over a few other places including some islands in the southern hemisphere. The Americans may be the same - since they are remote from their main rivals they are most likely to just become less powerful over time. Unless the Canadians decide to invade.
I would like to see them do as the British Empire did, and (not diminishing the acheivement of Ghandi et al) retreat to their borders and allow the new powers to rise. They don't seem to have 'being humble' on their list of values though. We might have to go through a world war for that re-ordering. That will suck.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine it ending like the british empire either.
ReplyDeletei guess it depends who they fall to
ReplyDeleteDo they need to fall to anyone? Can't the economy just collapse - debt etc - and they no longer be the great superpower? Another superpower will emerge pretty fast.
ReplyDeleteThey are falling now aren't they? Or maybe they've fallen.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly does it mean for an empire to fall? Mr Gibbon said Rome "declined and fell" - it gradually became less powerful over a number centuries, its borders shrinking, until eventually its citadels got invaded - Rome and Ravenna in the 500s CE, Constantinople not until the 1400s and some incredibly clumsy crusaders. The British so far have done better because the heart of their empire is on an island. They still have their empire but it's not as big as it used to be - Wales, Scotland, a bit of Ireland and nominal influence over a few other places including some islands in the southern hemisphere. The Americans may be the same - since they are remote from their main rivals they are most likely to just become less powerful over time. Unless the Canadians decide to invade.
ReplyDelete