As a European from a country that lived under foreign rule (with varying levels of self-governance) from about 900 AD to 1991 ... lol. Self-inflicted existential catastrophes just don't quite hit the same.

In Spain we got three or four "officially" since 1492-1512 or 1714 depending on how the modern Spain it's stated. One of them with a dictator lasting down to 1975. Go back to the Iberian kingdoms and the fun starts back to the Romans and before.