I just watched Gladiator II, and it brought something to mind, not just how epic the film is, but how eerily familiar some of its themes feel. The glory of Rome, the corruption beneath the surface, the sense that something grand is quietly falling apart.
The Roman Empire didn’t collapse in a single moment. It unraveled slowly through political division, inequality, overreach, and a growing disconnect between leaders and the people. And while we’re living in a very different world today, the echoes are hard to ignore.
Modern global powers face similar pressures. Widening inequality, shaky institutions, intense polarisation. It’s not the same as Rome, but the rhythm is uncomfortably close. History doesn’t repeat itself exactly, but it does have a way of rhyming.
The real risk isn’t becoming Rome. It’s refusing to recognise the signs that led to its fall. Empires often collapse from within, not because of a single enemy, but because no one was paying attention.
We don’t need to be paranoid about history repeating itself. But we do need to stay alert. Rome teaches us that even the mightiest systems can break down when people stop caring. Maybe it’s time we looked a little closer.
[Debunking: Indeed we should. Political shifts are already starting to change the order of things. An ‘acceptable’ further right party has just made some big gains. We have been here before in Europe.]
