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'Decline and fall': the ancient foundations of modern disorder

By Neville Morley and Roland Steinacher

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2026

Overview

Morley and Steinacher examine historical and contemporary invocations of the Roman empire, as an analogy that provides sensemaking to narratives of decline and collapse. They outline how this emotionally appealing trope can and is being mobilised as a form of globalised disruption and suggest a variety of measures and strategies to address misinformation and radicalisation associated with its use.

Global (Dis)Order

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