Lessons from the past about political governance today

In a recent article produced by Human Bridges, four leading archaeologists-Richard E. Blanton, Gary M. Feinman, Stephen A. Kowalewski, and Lane F. Fargher-Navarro-present an intriguing argument about why four seemingly stable ancient states collapsed. Of concern, “all four polities had demonstrated forms of governance that persisted for centuries, had been among the wealthiest and best-governed polities of their eras, and had embraced policies fostering inclusiveness and egalitarianism that engendered strong support from the majority of their citizens.” The authors proceed to discuss the importance of leaders adhering to norms of behavior. They argue that should those norms be broken, and the offenders not held accountable, that the loss of citizen confidence in their leaders can swiftly undo the fragile social threads that underpin the system of government. The authors then link their interpretation to the threat posed today to democracy in the United States. It’s an interesting argument that CfAS associates may be interested to read.