All Civilisations Collapse: is Western Civilisation in decline and if it is can it be saved?
It’s simple to spot a sinking ship. Its framework groans and fractures under pressure. Gallons of violent sea-water drag and pull it into the murky abyss. It ceases all progress, unable to stay afloat. The crew are incapable of steering it to safety. The battle is lost and eventually it succumbs to the inevitable.
It’s obvious that I intend to draw an analogy between a sinking ship and Western civilisation in decline. Yet the implication fosters a belief that the crew made an attempt to survive. They bared no responsibility for the conditions that induced the sinking of the ship. In contrast Western civilisation has been responsible for its own expiration. Deliberately it has fashioned a noose and placed it carefully around its neck, and then proceeded to tighten it. Now, perilously balanced on the precipice, gravity will soon win and the noose will choke the last breathe from its victim.
All Civilisations Die, so Why Worry About Western Civilisation?
Quite nervous I sat in the ramshackle kitchen area of a humble and welcoming family. Rather ignorant I wasn’t aware that Mayan people still inhabited small clusters of modern Central America! As I sat awaiting dinner, I felt welcomed and fortunate to be sitting with a Maya family who could trace their ancestry back generations. Communication was almost impossible, but for a few broken sentences. The children, one boy, one girl both grasped a rudimentary understanding of English.
Presented to me during our challenging conversation were descriptions about Maya culture and way of life. I shan’t forget the hospitality extended to me via this Maya family in Guatemala.
Early Maya settlements date back to around 2,000 B.C. and inhabited present-day northern Central America and southern Mexico. Renowned for their triumphs in architecture and technology, the Maya crafted flourishing cities, complete with temples and palaces. Now laying in ruins, such civilisations have long been abandoned.
The decline of this civilisation didn’t occur rapidly. Academics have cited several reasons why Maya civilisation collapsed, including warfare, changes to trade routes, environmental dilapidation, drought and overpopulation. A fusion of such factors probably expedited the deterioration.
Is Western Civilisation Fostering its Own Decline?
Normally associated with a man with a sandwich board, ‘The End is Nigh’ is a slogan of ridicule. But a lack of confidence in its own values has rendered in the West a decline and crisis.
After all,civilisations are not murdered; they are responsible for their own suicide! Backed-up by civilisations past, this is not a fresh concept. Such was the conclusion of Arnold Toynbee in his compilation of a 12-volume history into the collapse of 28 ancient societies. (1)
Nonetheless, collapse is normally assisted. Like the sinking ship, Western civilisation is descending into the gloomy depths of the oceans. Determined to re-balance the power equilibrium this process is being cheered-on by opponents.
What’s the Time Span of a Civilisation Before it Declines?
In an article published by the BBC, Luke Kemp attached criteria he claims to be relevant to a successful civilisation. These criteria are:
“…agriculture, multiple cities, military dominance in its geographical region and a continuous political structure.” (2)
His graphic below indicates that on average a civilisation lasts for 336 years.
Likewise, Peter Turchin feels ample evidence exists that the West is in exponential decline. An evolutionary anthropologist, Turchin studied cycles in predator and prey animals. The University of Connecticut professor adopted such behavioural patterns to evaluate the collapse of ancient civilisations. The equations were applied to historical data:
“…looking for patterns that link social factors such as wealth and health inequality to political instability. Sure enough, in past civilisations in Ancient Egypt, China and Russia, he spotted two recurring cycles that are linked to regular era-defining periods of unrest.” (3)
Professor Turchin surmises that the current BLM protests are merely a preview of our future and includes a visual graphic which demonstrates the extent of rioting over the past couple of decades in Western countries:
(4)
Nonetheless I disagree with professor Turchin’s analogy of Western civilisation and past empires. In his analysis he uncovered two distinctive cycles that he links to periods of unrest. Societies begin benign and equal, and evolve as population growth occurs and labour supply starts to exceed demand. Within this framework ‘elites’ form and simultaneously poorer echelons of society witness declining standards. The second cycle begins as society becomes more unequal. Materialising from this inequality is societal disturbance which seeks to redress the balance of wealth.
Compelling though it is, the theory neglects several key factors of twenty-first century wealth. Enhanced living standards have increased exponentially, and access to welfare and health provisions are freely available. In fact, in Western society, ‘absolute poverty’ has all but been eliminated.
| I hope you’re enjoying my article. If you are check out another of my articles: Chinese Communist Party: is it Reckless to Label Them Nazi’s? HERE |
Is Western Civilisation a Victim of its Own Success?
I’ve been postulating whether the West possesses too much material wealth. After all unhappiness and anxiety are often linked to economic hardship. But does this argument hold up? We’ve never had it so good! Well, certainly not materialistically anyway. Increases in disposable income, longer lives and more leisure time are benefits of modern Western civilisation. In theory they should bring us more happiness. Yet we’re not!
While we have more material goods than our parents and grandparents’ generations, expectations are higher and social mobility is something younger people expect but doesn’t always happen. Mobility and expectation can render people with immense pressure if they feel excluded from it. In a way the success of the West has fostered uncertainty which manifests itself in resentment of those who possess more material commodities.
Western Civilisation Decline: A Crisis of Confidence!
At a geostrategic level the principle threat to the West emanates from China. Determined to displace democratic values with ideological dogma, the Chinese Communist Party has provided a glimpse of what could happen in the West. Sadly the West neither has unity in handling this crisis, nor does it possess the confidence to embrace the challenge.
Western civilisation has been undergoing a crisis of confidence in its own identity which manifests itself in the search for a Covid-19 vaccine. An Oxford university Doctor, Emily Cousens reacted by saying she did not want a vaccine developed in the UK. She thought patriotic fervour could grip Britons who would be proud of their country. She said:
“The race is on and researchers at Oxford are doing vital, life-saving work. But races have winners and losers. If my university is the first to develop the vaccine, I’m worried that it will be used as it has been in the past, to fulfil its political, patriotic function as proof of British excellence. The story will be clear: China, once again, has unleashed a threat to civilisation. But the best brains of the UK have saved the world.”
Such a regrettable comment elucidates the crisis of the West. Lacking confidence in its history and culture, it seeks to undermine and flagellate itself for the crime of colonialism and ‘Western guilt’.
BLM Riots: A Prelude to Collapse!
The problem for the West isn’t economy or technology it’s a crisis of self-confidence. Kant’s belief in ‘perpetual peace’ relied on interdependent commerce as did Adam Smith’s advocacy of open markets. Instead, Western cultural philosophies have been undermined and challenged. Think J. S. Mill or Thomas Paine, John Locke of George Orwell. Public assembly and speaking openly without restraint are no longer vital concepts for many young people. Sadly, the so-called ‘long march through the institutions’ is reaching its climax.
The recent Black Lives Matter protests around the Western World showcase a collective of disgruntled young people despondent with Western society. A quick glance at the funding page of Black Lives Matter reveals:
“We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately harm black people in Britain and around the world.”
In their own words imperialism and capitalism trump the importance of black rights. They feature Marxist doctrine and revolutionary tactics as the core of their values. Like Extinction Rebellion the rallying point of their protests are not representative of their objectives.
Challenged over his inflammatory statement, Extinction Rebellion spokesman Rupert Read cited that XR: “was the best chance we have of bringing down capitalism” and that people “might die” in the process of “bringing down Governments.” (5) Their obsession with the overthrow of capitalism overshadows their fixation on the environment.
Who Are The Elites & are they Responsible for Western Decline?
Comprised of young energetic – and often wealthy middle-class – white elites, BLM and XR possess the type of privilege they are attempting to crush. And in a sense this is what’s troubling. Western civilisation feels compelled to commit suicide in a bid to cleanse itself. In past civilisations the determination of the elites has been to sustain power. In current Western society the elites are determined to surrender it.
A suicidal desire is difficult to defend. The effective strategy of Japanese Kamikaze pilots in the Second World War proves this. If the preparations for full control by the elites has commenced, what’s been the response of the West? In a word, capitulation! Our historic statues have been damaged and in some circumstances removed or destroyed, the nation’s favourite sit-coms have been deleted from streaming services, and our governments have surrendered.
The pace of this recent change has alarmed some commentators but the framework for Western decline is nothing new. See Christopher Lasch The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy.
Attempting to displace the elites here in the West is arduous and any attempt is likely to be unsuccessful. But in previous civilisations the intention of the elites has been to sustain power. Yet our current elitist class seek to undermine their own authority. Think Yorkshire Tea who recently tweeted “please don’t buy our tea again” to a so-called far-right critic who condemned the company, or Uncle Ben’s rice who have scraped their logo of a black man, or Nike who have openly supported the BLM movement.
As Netflix posted on Twitter recently:
“To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter. We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up.”
Such corporations are short-sighted. BLM seeks to deconstruct capitalism and absorb corporate businesses into public ownership. And yet these corporations among others are merely providing the podiums in which these grass-roots movements can grow.
Likewise social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube are supporting anti-Western doctrine. They provide a rostrum where neo-Marxist ideals can flourish and prosper, but simultaneously censor conflicting political opponents. Again the long-term vision of these enormous tech companies is short-sighted. For if (when!) the West finally succumbs to cultural-Marxist doctrine their platforms will be mouth pieces for the new totalitarian state, similar to Chinese social media which is heavily regulated and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
The Western Future?
In contrast to the raucous noise of neo-Marxism is a Western culture in crisis. It lacks direction and confidence and appears quick to capitulate to extremist dogma. But is there hope? Can our Western liberal values and dedication to equality transcend the vociferous voices of the rabble? I’m uncertain. The institutions that symbolise and embody Western values have been systematically undermined and transformed. Seeping into the top echelons of our societies is cultural-Marxism; a dogma guilty of genocide and misery. Yet our young spirited people see in it an opportunity to escape the shackles of unfair capitalism. Monstrous as it sounds, these young people fail to grasp the sacrosanct values of the Western culture that has underpinned a successful civilisation.
Instead, the young are content – complicit in fact – to leverage the decline. If they were the crew of a ship they would be responsible for standing idle as the waters gushed in to envelop it. In fact they would likely be responsible for the initial damage. To cleanse white guilt and colonial persecution, suicide is the just answer.
Can the West survive the coming apocalypse? Perhaps, but our Western institutions need radical transformation. I ask you, is that likely to happen?
References:
1. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190218-are-we-on-the-road-to-civilisation-collapse
2. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190218-are-we-on-the-road-to-civilisation-collapse