Decline and Fall: The End of Empire and the Future of Democracy in 21st Century America

by John Michael Greer

The political theorist and author of After Progress examines the future of U.S. dominance on the world stage in this persuasive and provocative book. The decline and fall of America's global empire is the central feature of today's geopolitical landscape. How we respond to this reality will determine much of our future trajectory, with implications that reach far beyond the limits of one nation's borders. In Decline and Fall , John Michael Greer examines the path we’re on and presents a persuasive challenge to the conventional wisdom of empire. Rather than asking if today's American empire should survive, Greer asks whether it can―and goes on to demonstrate that the answer is "no.” After exploring the inevitable consequences of imperial collapse, Decline and Fall proposes a renewal of democratic institutions as the only constructive way forward.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, Economics, Sustainability, American History, War

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2014

About the author

John Michael Greer is an author of over thirty books and the blogger behind The Archdruid Report. He served as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. His work addresses a range of subjects, including climate change, peak oil, the future of industrial society, and the occult. He also writes science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife.

Reviews

[Pat Rolston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will disturb and upset most people regarding the USA which is why it needs to be read. The allegory of the boiling frog or fish not able to understand water as home both are applicable. I repeat the salient quote from Jill Lapore: “the study of history frees us from the prison of the present.” Michael Greer is a student of history as well as a very bright fellow who dissects America’s standing in the world as a function of historical norms governing the rise and fall of empires. There is little argument America is a modern day empire and there is also little argument the place we find America is in the twilight and last gasp of Empire’s privileges.

Evidence is everywhere and Mr Greer brings all that evidence to the fore in a stark assessment of our place in history. You can debate the timeline, but not the inevitability of us falling prey to our hubris, disproportionate user of the worlds resources, and failure of the neo-liberal order gone very wrong. I leave it to the intrepid reader to be enlightened as to the details, but for those who believe we are some example of exceptionalism in the positive sense this will be a very, very eye opening and painful reading experience. For those who feel something is very unsettled in America and see the failure of our politics, cultural tribalism, combined with massive income inequalities as a few symptoms of national illness this will clarify the root causes. His further description of crumbling infrastructure, failed educational institutions, and endemic sense of doom by our upcoming generations mark a litany of symptoms he analyzes incisively with compelling conclusions.

There are some mis-steps by the author in assessing the current energy situation and I am enough of an irrational optimist to believe solar, wind, and fusion are all capable of saving us from an energy Armageddon. Unfortunately it only delays the inevitable redefinition of our “Empire”!hence my reference to timing. I am not a fatalist, but believe. we must confront the ills of our country in unabashed honesty to stand any chance of diagnosing cures. That may allow the present future generations to redefine a far more positive outcome than the author hypothesizes.

[Jan Bloxham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greer uses highly original, blistering prose to elevate his knowledgable, insightful and wise points even further. This book was a delightful experience. I’m eager to read more of his work. The audiobook narration by Kristoffer Tabori was nothing less than superb.

[Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The initial theory of imperial evolution and decay is interesting and worth keeping in mind when reading other histories or when confronted with headlines. That said, the later bits of the book read a little bit like a rant you'd find on defense/war blogs.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing look at the past and present, and where it could possibly be taking American society. I highly recommend this title, especially if you are at all politically involved.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well hello, 2017. Figured I'd start you off with something apropos.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part, a history of the US with all the parts about being a global empire that school left out, was the most readable. The stuff on economics, needed for the books argument, are the least readable, as one would expect.
Still, a very cogent look at the forces tearing apart the US right now. Even though the book came out some time ago.

[Logan Streondj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I think it can be like an introductory textbook for geopolitics.

Has lots of good intel on history of empire cycles and politics. Lots of worthwhile concepts.

Worth reading more than once I think.

Definitely worth archiving.

[Spurius Lartius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't necessarily agree with all of Greer's conclusions or reasoning but it does provide a lot of interesting thoughts. Worth the read to provoke further thought.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decline and Fall: The End of Empire and the Future of Democracy in 21st Century America was a real eye opener! This book is a must read for everyone. The author compares the state of America today to past empires such as Ancient Rome and 18th and 19th century Britain. We have much to learn from these earlier empires if we want our American empire to sustain its position in the world as an influential nation. All of the signs of decline are all around us, but we continue to ignore them while spiraling downwards towards our own demise. But hope remains and the author informs us of several ways in which we can get our country back on the right track. Great read and very insightful!

[Teo · Rating 4 out of 5]

2016.08.15–2016.08.19

Contents

Greer JM (2014) (10:22) Decline and Fall - The End of Empire and the Future of Democracy in 21st Century America

Prologue: Understanding Empire

Part I: The Course of Empire

01. Origins of American Empire
02. The Struggle Over Empire
03. America at Zenith

Part II: The Widening Gyre

04. The Failure of Politics
05. The Economic Unraveling
06. The Specter of Defeat
07. The Consequences of Collapse

Part III: A Republic, If You Can Keep It

08. The Future of Democracy
09. Reinventing Society
10. Facing a Hard Future

Afterword: A Choice of Tomorrows
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering look at the state of modern life. A historical anomaly of wealth and complexity made possible by the extraction of wealth from the land in the form of oil and other non renewables. Within there is wealth extraction from the cheap labor to industrial owners, and financiers. All these extractions continue to grow at the expense of their own longevity and cause steady inflation. Historical norm will be a slow collapse to sustainable agricultural economies once oil and other resources get to expensive to be profitable. Other empires extracted wealth by looting, and fell as they could no longer maintain the growth of that cheap looting.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greer is always provides a good read. A good antidote to our tendency to think what is was predestined and will continue forever.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent read, but chapters are a bit disjointed (lots of summarization of what we just read in the previous chapter, like they were all written at different times)