Book: All Societies Die – How to Keep Hope Alive

In today’s world, with the accelerating impacts of climate change, nature loss, rising inequality, and increasing political instability, Samuel Cohn’s book All Societies Die: How to Keep Hope Alive is highly relevant. I was attracted to the book based on my interest in the unfolding future, as well as my early studies in sociology and economic history.

Samuel Cohn is a professor of sociology specializing in the study of economic inequality, labor markets, and the causes of social and political upheaval. Cohn’s work often focuses on the structural factors that lead to societal collapse and the role of economic systems in shaping social outcomes. With a background in both sociology and economics, he is recognized for his interdisciplinary approach to understanding complex societal issues.

Watching himself age, Cohn started examining the historical patterns of societal aging:

“I began to wonder if societies age and decay in the same way that people age and decay. When I looked at the data – it was clear the answer was yes. The death of societies, civilizations and empires were all over the historical record. No society has lasted longer than 1000 years. Most last for far less than that. By historical standards, the Euro-American world system – the world system in which we live – the system of nations based in Western Europe that extended to the United States and to the rest of the world – is about 650 years old. It dates from the late Middle Ages and the flowering of late medieval economic and cultural growth that preceded the Renaissance.”

The Inevitable Collapse of Societies

The central premise of Cohn’s book is that the collapse of societies is inevitable. He compares societies to biological organisms, which are born, grow, mature, and eventually die. This life cycle applies not only to small, primitive societies but also to powerful civilizations like the Roman Empire or the Chinese dynasties and even modern democratic states. Cohn draws from history, sociology, and anthropology to demonstrate that no society is immune to the forces that drive collapse, which he categorizes into three leading causes: economic breakdown, internal strife, and environmental degradation.

Economic Breakdown: According to Cohn, the economic structures that support a society’s prosperity can also become its undoing. Societies thrive when they manage to harness resources effectively, but when these systems become overextended or resources are depleted, societies face economic crises that weaken their foundations. Cohn cites the Roman Empire’s reliance on conquest and slave labor, which led to economic instability once it could no longer sustain territorial expansion, as a classic example of this phenomenon.

Internal Strife: Societal collapse is often accelerated by internal conflicts and the breakdown of social cohesion. Cohn discusses how political corruption, social inequality, and the erosion of trust in institutions contribute to societal disintegration. When the bonds that hold a society together weaken, the risk of civil unrest and conflict rises. Cohn points to historical examples, such as the French Revolution, where social inequality and political dysfunction led to a violent upheaval destabilizing society.

Environmental Degradation: Cohn argues that environmental factors are crucial in societal collapse. He explores how deforestation, soil erosion, and resource depletion contributed to the fall of ancient civilizations like the Mayans and the Sumerians. Modern societies, he warns, face similar risks due to climate change, pollution, and the unsustainable use of natural resources. Without addressing these environmental challenges, contemporary societies are likely to face similar fates.

Lessons from History

Cohn delves deeply into historical case studies to illustrate how societal collapses have played out over time. He highlights several key lessons:

Complexity Leads to Fragility: As societies grow more complex, they become more vulnerable to collapse. The intricate political, economic, and social systems that support large societies can become difficult to maintain, and even small disruptions can lead to cascading failures. The collapse of the Soviet Union, which disintegrated due to political and economic overreach, is a modern example of this principle in action.

Inequality Breeds Instability: Cohn repeatedly emphasizes the role of inequality in societal collapse. When wealth and power become concentrated in the hands of a few, while the majority are left marginalized, it creates fertile ground for unrest. The collapse of monarchies in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, often triggered by widespread discontent with the aristocracy, illustrates how inequality can lead to revolutionary movements.

Environmental Limits Are Real: Civilizations that fail to respect environmental limits ultimately face collapse. Cohn underscores how ancient civilizations overexploited their environments, leading to famine, disease, and population decline. The parallels between these ancient societies and today’s global environmental crises are clear, and Cohn warns that modern societies must take these lessons seriously.

The Role of Hope

Despite the analysis, Cohn argues that while societal collapse is inevitable, individuals and communities can still take steps to mitigate the effects and promote resilience. The title of the book, All Societies Die: How to Keep Hope Alive, reflects his belief that acknowledging the inevitability of collapse does not mean surrendering to despair. Instead, Cohn proposes that societies can take action to delay collapse, lessen its impact, and rebuild in its aftermath.

Social and Political Reform: Cohn advocates for greater efforts to address social inequality, corruption, and political dysfunction. By strengthening institutions, fostering trust, and promoting social justice, societies can create more resilient systems that are better able to withstand the pressures of economic or environmental crises.

Environmental Sustainability: To avoid the environmental degradation that has doomed past societies, Cohn calls for sustainable management of natural resources and serious action on climate change. Societies that fail to adopt sustainable practices risk accelerating their collapse, but those that embrace environmental stewardship may be able to delay or soften the blow.

Community Building: Cohn highlights the importance of strong, cohesive communities in the face of societal collapse. When national institutions fail, local communities often become the primary sources of support and resilience. He encourages individuals to invest in their local communities, build social networks, and foster solidarity, which can help people survive and rebuild during periods of collapse.

Planning for the Future: Finally, Cohn stresses the importance of long-term planning. Societies that look beyond short-term goals and invest in the future are more likely to survive and recover from collapse. This includes not only environmental sustainability but also political and economic foresight.

Embracing the Inevitable

Cohn’s All Societies Die offers a sobering reminder that no society is immortal. While the collapse of societies is inevitable, the impact of that collapse can be managed if individuals, communities, and governments take proactive steps to address inequality, environmental degradation, and political dysfunction. Cohn’s message is ultimately one of resilience rather than defeatism. He believes that by acknowledging the inevitability of collapse and preparing for it, societies can survive, adapt, and rebuild, keeping hope alive even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

In essence, All Societies Die provides an urgent call to action, urging readers to recognize the fragility of our modern world and to take steps to foster resilience in the face of inevitable decline. While the future may hold many challenges, Cohn believes that hope can still be found in our ability to learn from history, adapt, and persevere.

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Samuel Cohn’s book All Societies Die: How to Keep Hope Alive (2021) was summarized with a little help of ChatGPT40 after having read the book, and explored the author’s website.

Elisabet Lagerstedt

Elisabet Lagerstedt is the founder and director of Future Navigators. As a trusted advisor, consultant, and Executive Coach, she helps business leaders navigate beyond business as usual to build Better Business and co-create a better future - through insight, strategy, innovation, and transformation. Elisabet is also the author of Better Business, Better Future (2022) and Navigera in i Framtiden (2018).