Now count the centuries those cultures existed and exercised hegemony.
The dark thought is this: we may be at the crossroads for containing an imperial America. Because if America commits to global empire it will take WWIII to contain it.
The Roman Republic was a rising power for centuries. It became the eminent Mediterranean power in 146 BCE and annexed Gaul under Caesar, right as it was collapsing. The Roman Empire then lasted for centuries more.
> doesn't feel like it would be a good time for the rest of the world if the United States gave way to the United Empire for next 500 years
Or America trying for that future. That’s WWIII.
Industry was not globalized in the previous regimes of pre-World war imperialism. That is the novel difference now. And China requires globalized trade in order to support its overindustrialization and economy.
America also currently requires it because it doesn't have its industrial base anymore. It will probably re-industrialize over the next coming decades but that's something that happens over decades.
However, I feel the new rise of imperialism also marks the end of civilization's historical memory of industrial warfare of the world wars.
And that is a very very bad thing
Russia has been itching to use tactical nukes. If America makes two, that’s the future.
What Putin enjoys doing is threatening to use tactical nukes in the hope that no-one calls his bluff.
It’s Putin and Moscow, that population has gone all in on this nonsense.
> What Putin enjoys doing is threatening to use tactical nukes in the hope that no-one calls his bluff
Fair enough. But the threat has been real and explicit. Which gives cover for someone else who actually wants to use them.