Noah Smith’s recent article examines the parallels between Ming China and 20th century America. He reminds us both were for quite some time the most powerful and advanced nation on the planet. This made them self-centred and caused them to ignore advances made elsewhere. Stagnation ensued. Ming China decline was calamitous and by the end of the 19th century China was chopped into pieces by nations its emperors had long considered barbarian. Smith hopes the same does not occur to his country.
via America in decline.
