America's Empire: A Roman-Style Decline? | JQJO

Historian Mike Duncan, known for his podcasts on Rome's decline, sees parallels between the Roman Empire's fall and the current state of the American empire. He points to wealth inequality, political polarization, and a breakdown of political norms as shared characteristics. While acknowledging America's continued power, Duncan highlights the potential for a slow unraveling, similar to Rome's transition from Republic to Empire, where the outward appearance of stability masked internal decay. He emphasizes the role of elites and their potential to either maintain or dismantle the existing power structure, drawing comparisons to past revolutions. Although concerned about the current political climate, Duncan remains cautiously optimistic about the possibility of positive change.