Why Empires Fall: Rome, America and the Future of the West

With one step in history and the other in modern world politics, Peter Heather and John Rapley draw an uncanny parallel and a productive difference between the Roman Empire and the dominating West in their book ‘Why Empires Fall’. They argue that both Roman Empire and the industrial West underwent economic boom, generating high flux of wealth and becoming world powers. However, these economic and political influences were temporal and eventually lead to an inadvertent decline. They find out that the cause of Rome’s unprecedented decline is its expansion into peripheral areas, breeding new frontiers of regional conflicts that weakened the imperial centre. Meanwhile, the rise of Persian Empire challenged the Roman power in expanded regions, leading to its declining economic and military capabilities. In light of this hypothesis, the authors draw a comparison of the west, which faces economic globalisation, emerging multilateralism, and rise of China that may overpower it in the future.
Peter Heather is a British historian and his interest lies in the later Roman Empire and its successor states. As the Chair of Medieval History Department at King’s College London, Heather brings deep historical knowledge of Rome to the book. His research focuses on the Goth and Visigoth kingdoms of the Medieval period with his current inclination towards the propaganda of the late Roman elite and issues of migration and ethnicity in Roman Empire. Heather’s extensive background in Medieval history and his research focus on the nuance of the Roman Empire provide a strong historical foundation for the book.
The co-author of ‘Why Empires Fall’, John Rapley, is a political economist who adds a different dimension to the book with his research focus on global development and economic history. He is the founder of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute and a senior fellow at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study. Additionally, Rapley serves as a visiting professor at Yonsei University’s Institute for Poverty Alleviation an
International Development, South Korea. His unique perspective as a journalist with experience interviewing billionaires, drug-lords, prime ministers, and victims of sex trafficking, helps him offer real-world insights and narratives to the book. Together, Heather and Rapley provide a comprehensive and multifaceted exploration of why empires fall, blending historical depth with economic and political analysis.
Why Empires Fall is structured into two parts, each comprising four chapters that meticulously dissect the rise and fall of empires, specifically focusing on Roman Empire. The first part sets the stage with opening chapter ‘Party Like its 399..’ which provides a vivid depiction of the zenith of late Roman Empire. This chapter is followed by ‘Empire and Enrichment’ which explores the economic underpinning of Roman Empire and contemporary West. ‘East of the Rhine, North of the Danube’ explores the geographical and strategic challenges faced by Roman Empire while ‘The Power of Money’ highlights the critical role of wealth and fiscal policy.
The second part of the book shifts focus to the decline of Rome’s imperial might. It begins with ‘Things Fall Apart’, which outlines the initial signs of decline in Roman Empire and compares it to the West, specifically the US. ‘Barbarian Invasions’ chronicles the external pressures and incursions that exacerbated decline of Rome’s central power. ‘Power and the Periphery’ investigates the sifting centres of power and the erosion of central authority, culminating in ‘Death of the Nation’ which warns Western leaders to take pre-emptive cooperative measures to escape ultimate decline like Rome. This structured approach makes the authors weave a coherent and compelling narrative, combing historical analysis with broader themes of economic and political dynamics of modern world.
Peter Heather and John Rapley argue that the life-cycles of empires exhibit discernible patterns and suggest that the modern West stands at a crucial juncture similar to Rome before it falls. Alluding to the battle of Adrianople, where over 20,000 Roman soldiers including Emperor Valens, were killed by Gothic warriors in a defeat reminiscent of Hannibal’s victory at Cannae, ‘Why Empires Fall’ provide a concise, unembellished analysis of current global challenges. The authors propose that lessons from Roman history should guide the reinforcement of Western values – rule of law, free press, and elite accountability, within the emerging global order. They emphasise the urgency of these measures to ensure a sustainable future for the West.
Heather and Rapley’s look backward to see forward approach suggests that understanding past points of failure in imperial systems can help the West avoid repeating the same mistakes. The authors highlight the factors that led to the fall of Roman Empire and apply their analysis to the current state of the global West, including the rise of China. They identify key factors such as superpower rivalry, substantial migration from the periphery, bitter internal political divisions, and the self-assertion and newfound wealth of the developing inner periphery. In today’s context, China represents the rising periphery, whose growing economic and political power challenges the dominance of the Western powers. As Rome had to allocate more resources to counter external threats from Persia and maintain its European frontiers, the modern west finds itself directing significant resources to address the strategic competition with China, specifically in the South China Sea.
Why Empires Fall stands out in several ways compared to other books on the similar theme like ‘Why Nations Fail’, ‘The Rise and Fall of Great Powers’, and ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’. The book uniquely juxtaposes the fall of the Roman Empire with contemporary issues facing the US and the Western world. This comparative approach provides a nuanced perspective on historical patterns and their modern implications. Additionally, this book combines historical analysis with insights from political science, economics, and sociology. This interdisciplinary method offers a holistic view of factors contributing to the rise and fall of empires. Nevertheless, while many books focus solely on past empires, this book draws direct connection to current geopolitical trends, making it particularly relevant for understanding contemporary global challenges.
At some points ‘Why Empires Fall’ complies with Karl Marx’s critique of capitalism and its inherent contradictions. Marx argues that capitalism’s relentless pursuit of profit and expansion would ultimately lead to its downfall due to internal tensions and inequalities. Similarly, ‘Why Empires Fall’ examines how unchecked expansion of Rome, driven by economic and political motives, strained its resources, created internal division, and wreaked it over time. This perspective highlights Marx’s idea that seeds of destruction lie within the very systems that propel empires to their heights.
G. John Ikenberry, a renowned Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University, affirms the stance of Heather and Rapley. He emphasises that the lesson ancient Rome offers to Western leaders is that primacy cannot be re-established. However, there is still time to create a world order that accommodates rising powers while defending the West’s core interests. Similarly, Carlos F. Norena, an expert on Roman history from the University of California, Berkeley, has praised the book for its lucid and absorbing nature. He highlights its structured approach and its ability to simplify complex topics like wars and economy. This praise indicates that the book is highly recommended for those seeking to understand contemporary world politics and history.
To sum up, Why Empires Fall provides a comprehensive take on the factors contributing to the rise and fall of empires, blending historical precedent with current analysis. It offers insights into the potential future trajectory of Western powers. This book is a good recommendation for Western leaders and policy makers as it suggests them to create a world order that accepts rising powers like China for cooperation, not competition.