Kinda the former. We are witnessing the slow collapse of the US global empire (along with its European wing), and like other instances of hegemonic empires collapsing it's not going to be pretty (think collapse of the Roman Empire) but it's ultimately a system collapsing rather than society collapsing.
this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026
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Stupid question, I don't feel like Europe is collapsing in any way. Can you tell me why would you say that?
The same far right rot—propelled by the same declining living standards and affordability crises—that's destroying America from the inside is also spreading rapidly in Europe, and the only group in a position to do anything about it is the same corporate centrists who failed to prevent it in America. The fundamental cause of America's ongoing collapse—the ruling class's inability/unwillingness to restrain the excesses of the system against the working class—is essentially identical to what's going on in Europe. Europe might not feel like it's collapsing, but America didn't ten years ago either.
Yeah, but Europe, despite having the same idiotic centrists in power in a lot of places, has much stronger democratic institutions and systems to push back.
As much as I see far right pushes, they can't fuck over the whole continent at the same time like they did in the US. Brexit had a backlash, AfD winning would show how shit they are to other countries. Also, there are more varied stuff going on, there is a lot of shit to hope about as well.
Hungary of all places might get a wealth tax going on this year for example. It's not all bad. We just killed not just Chat Control 2.0, but also the already implemented first iteration was rolled back.
has much stronger democratic institutions and systems to push back.
I strongly doubt that (the US system of checks and balances isn't weak; it's just thoroughly compromised), but also even the strongest fort is useless without soldiers to defend it. These systems are meant to help the elites protect liberal democracy; defensive democracy is useless (or outright counterproductive, see Germany and Palestine solidarity) if the elites don't want to use it. There are ways for the masses to protect democracy, but those don't happen in courts and legislatures.
Brexit had a backlash
Sure, but it doesn't seem to have discredited its far right backers.
AfD winning would show how shit they are to other countries.
Never expect rightwingers to meaningfully engage with reality. If real-life demonstrations were enough, Trump's victory would've destroyed all far-right politics everywhere. That said I'm not arguing that all European countries will go fascist, only that enough will do so that Europe as a whole will lose most of its international influence. There's no way Britain or France for example can compete eith Russia or China on the international relations front; it takes the whole EU to keep Europe a world power player.
I'd like to argue that this isn't a slow collapse, but a remarkably rapid one. The Roman Empire, for example, took almost 300 years from the Antonine Plague that halted it's growth before the last emperor was deposed, or almost 500 years if counting from Julius Ceasar and the eruption at Pompei.
The USA, by contrast, entered its decline a mere 25 years ago when it expended vast resources attempting to conquer the Graveyard of Empires, and only just last year ceded its position as global hegemon to China. At this rate, the American Empire might only last another generation or two.
Yeah as concerning as the present historical moment is to live through, i'm really excited about the light it can shine on the past - what imperial transitions look like.
We've been heading towards a time that a lot of leaders knew would require change and reform but didn't. This has made the required reform to be more drastic, creating greater resistance.
It seems to be so bad that a lot of elites are just betting on collapse without understanding what they'll lose.
The Epstein class is very emboldened, now.
They want their island back.
Sure, they probably have a new one. But they're angry at losing the first one.
What‽
I can't tell if this is a stupid question. It isn't even a coherent sentence.
What are you asking?
Its not collapsing thats mostly the internet being a void people scream into. There is some global crises at the moment but they'll pass. Day to day most people are getting up going to work, spending time with their families and living life.
Suppose you had a co-worker. You both make the same salary, say $75,000/year takehome.
You mention that you are buying a house, and your co-worker says "I wish I could do that. I have too much credit card debt."
"How much debt do you have?" you ask.
"$600,000," he replies.
"Oh, my," you reply. "Well, how did you spend that much so fast? What about your budget?"
"Yeah, I still spend about $110,000 per year, but most of my debt is just interest accrual."
And that's the U.S. in a nutshell. Yes, we can get by for another day or another month or another year - until we can't. And then it all comes crashing down with a quickness.
Look at the graph here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_public_debt
Notice that the last time our debt ratio got this high, it was WWII. After the war, the financial repercussions were addressed, the money was paid back and we got on with our lives. When budget shortfalls started to spike again in the 90s, Democrats and Republicans worked together and brought it back down.
So, if the debt is to be reduced, we either need to work together or we need a world war. Which do you think is more likely to happen?
The world isnt America.
And also why are you using an example of 600k cc debt? 6k debt cc is more realistic and would be easily payable by someone on 75k. Dont get me wrong, the american debt situation is not good but society still moves along while people fall through the cracks.
Crises don't pass, they are either resolved or they get worse. Your passivity is not a measure of the labor of those who have resolved previous crises. You are free to stick your head back in the sand, but do not blame us when we can no longer protect you.
Thinking society is collapsing isnt solving problems. Most of these problems aren't the average persons to solve
We have the liberties we have because average people in the past knew otherwise. Union workers, revolutionaries, mass political movements, terrorists, soldiers, and civil servants. If the system steers society towards collapse, we all have to change the system by the least violent means available, which is sometimes a violent civil war.
Yes but its not steering towards collapse.
Most of these problems aren’t the average persons to solve
Then you've totally missed the point of freedom and democracy.
Collectively, our leaders are very much "average" people. Some are super smart, others are ignorant and stupid. Some are charismatic leaders, others are petty, vindictive administrators. Some are well-educated, some are Majorie Taylor Greene. It takes a collective effort to solve problems, though. A nuclear scientist can't build a reactor without ditch diggers.
Society isn't collapsing. Freedom and prosperity are collapsing.
I'm not saying not vote. I assumed the average person is voting for people to solve those problems. Then its those people who are focused on solving those problems. Average people focus on their own problems.
How much of what? Which ruling class?
Ex: healthcare and childcare is unaffordable and collapsing everywhere because patriarchy refuses to accept that it's something that once employed half of the population to do and is obviously going to be extremely expensive to maintain so they just expect free social labor to fill the gaps. This is true even in China.