Mark, I don't know how you manage to just get better and better. And how you are always standing back enough to see the next big thing before it arrives, to see the significance that others miss. Or how you manage not to be overwhelmed by so much input.
Overall, an incisive piece that illuminates the decline of the US, and the rise of China. However, I'm not sure that in the present day the list of the characteristics of declining empires all apply. The ending of the most recent global empire, the British Empire, which probably began in the early decades of the 20th Century, and was obvious with the independence of India after WW2, did not share all the features you list. I would suggest that the growth of the middle class, which began in the 19th Century in the UK, softened the socio-economic divisions you highlight. It is the shrinking of that same middle class that is taking place in the US, as its empire, always one of economic domination rather than colonisation, declines. China's own rise as an empire is characterised not by colonisation, but by economic and political control of individual state governments. The Chinese colonisation of East Africa is such; very different from the former imperial control by Britain, which directly controlled the political processes. China is happy to leave states a degree of self-government, so long as they do what China says on the international stage. If you look at the central governing of China itself, you see the same degree of an overall central control, but with a strong degree of devolution to individual regions, cities, or business enterprises. The world changes, and the methods of imperialism or world domination change also.
I think America is declining and I think the horrendous inequality, the election of Trump and the rise of China are contributing factors. I have been to China and traveled quite widely using public transport and the outstanding feature was that the Chinese are self contained, confident and I felt they just don’t consider anyone else as an adversary or as a threat economically. I also saw such pride in their achievements and history. Admittedly I was visiting cities, and well-known historical sites, but the countryside looked medieval. It is a massive country with huge potential and masses of confidence. I must add the visit was in 2012 and has probably changed a lot since then too. As a communist country they have 10yr plans or longer, whereas the west has to cope with change every few years, this makes a difference. It was a fascinating experience. It was easy to travel, the hotels were excellent but the people were not friendly, not unfriendly just not interested. A few spoke to use, testing their English and some students in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Trump is hastening America’s decline, and is this a bad thing as it seems that capitalism is now is failing us all except for the wealthy who seem to get richer while everyone else is getting poorer? Inequality is more evident than ever before.
I found Mark’s piece excellent and enlightening as usual.
Next I watched Barack Obama campaigning with James Talarico. That gave me some hope!
Mark, I don't know how you manage to just get better and better. And how you are always standing back enough to see the next big thing before it arrives, to see the significance that others miss. Or how you manage not to be overwhelmed by so much input.
Many thanks, as ever.
Really appreciate that, Karen.
Overall, an incisive piece that illuminates the decline of the US, and the rise of China. However, I'm not sure that in the present day the list of the characteristics of declining empires all apply. The ending of the most recent global empire, the British Empire, which probably began in the early decades of the 20th Century, and was obvious with the independence of India after WW2, did not share all the features you list. I would suggest that the growth of the middle class, which began in the 19th Century in the UK, softened the socio-economic divisions you highlight. It is the shrinking of that same middle class that is taking place in the US, as its empire, always one of economic domination rather than colonisation, declines. China's own rise as an empire is characterised not by colonisation, but by economic and political control of individual state governments. The Chinese colonisation of East Africa is such; very different from the former imperial control by Britain, which directly controlled the political processes. China is happy to leave states a degree of self-government, so long as they do what China says on the international stage. If you look at the central governing of China itself, you see the same degree of an overall central control, but with a strong degree of devolution to individual regions, cities, or business enterprises. The world changes, and the methods of imperialism or world domination change also.
💯
I think America is declining and I think the horrendous inequality, the election of Trump and the rise of China are contributing factors. I have been to China and traveled quite widely using public transport and the outstanding feature was that the Chinese are self contained, confident and I felt they just don’t consider anyone else as an adversary or as a threat economically. I also saw such pride in their achievements and history. Admittedly I was visiting cities, and well-known historical sites, but the countryside looked medieval. It is a massive country with huge potential and masses of confidence. I must add the visit was in 2012 and has probably changed a lot since then too. As a communist country they have 10yr plans or longer, whereas the west has to cope with change every few years, this makes a difference. It was a fascinating experience. It was easy to travel, the hotels were excellent but the people were not friendly, not unfriendly just not interested. A few spoke to use, testing their English and some students in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Trump is hastening America’s decline, and is this a bad thing as it seems that capitalism is now is failing us all except for the wealthy who seem to get richer while everyone else is getting poorer? Inequality is more evident than ever before.
I found Mark’s piece excellent and enlightening as usual.
Thank you for sharing.
So sad
https://substack.com/@aaronruby/note/p-188961420?r=7jhui4
https://aaronruby.substack.com/p/growing-threat-of-us-china-war?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7jhui4
https://aaronruby.substack.com/p/growing-threat-of-us-china-war?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7jhui4