 | How Worlds Collapse: What History, Systems, and Complexity Can Teach Us About Our Modern World and Fragile Future Subjects: Politics & International Relations; Social Sciences; Environmental Politics; International Political Economy; Sociology & Social Policy; Political Sociology; Social Class; Social Theory; Sociology of Science & Technology; As our society confronts climate change, authoritarianism, and epidemics, what can examples from the past tell us about our present and future? Historical Systemic Collapse offers case studies of societies that either collapsed or overcame cataclysmic adversity. The authors of this volume find commonalities between past civilizations and our current society, tracing patterns, strategies, and early warning signs that can inform decision making today. While today's complex world presents unique challenges, many mechanisms, dynamics, and fundamental challenges to the foundations of civilization have been seen throughout history - highlighting essential lessons for the future. Miguel A. Centeno is Musgrave Professor of Sociology at Princeton University and Vice-Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. His recent books include War and Society, Global Capitalism, and States in the Developing World. He is the founder of the Research Community on Global Systemic Risk. Peter W. Callahan is a graduate of Princeton University who earned his M.S. in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of New Mexico. He joined the Princeton Global Systemic Risk Strategy project in 2015 His interests include the study of socio-ecological systems, historical systemic risks, sustainable development, and renewable energy policy and technology. Paul Larcey studied engineering and materials science for his undergraduate & master's degrees (Universities of Oxford & Cambridge respectively), and received an MBA in Finance (Imperial College Business School). He worked initially in a corporate research environment before moving into global industrial sectors at board and senior levels closely involved in funding strategies for major projects (public and private) primarily in the engineering sector, M&A, Private Equity and risk analysis in challenging environments. He has also worked in strategic management consulting with a focus on technology and sustainability. Thayer Patterson is the coordinator and a founding member of the PIIRS Global Systemic Risk research community. Subsequent to receiving a Master in Finance from Princeton's Bendheim Center for Finance, his research has focused on the causes and consequences of catastrophic systemic risk. |
