I really like Ronald White concept of the pyramid described in “A Short History of Progress”. Population distributions in term of wealth and power tend to evolve from egalitarian to a pyramid where the wealthiest and most powerful are on top and the poorest and least powerful are at the bottom. The top relies on the other layers to grow. At one point the pyramid becomes unstable as the top gets further and further away from the bottom and the middle layers (middle class) start disappearing.

A civilization gets toppled when the pyramid becomes unstable and strong factors such as overpopulation, destruction of the natural environment and economic imbalance (over reliance on resources external to the pyramid). At that stage the bottom of the pyramid leaves the pyramid and the entire system collapses.

Signs of impending collapse include disappearance of the middle class, increase in the “distance” between the haves and the have-nots, high reliance on external resources (such as energy and manufacturing), high level of debt, emergence of ultra-conservatism, and environmental changes affecting the food supply such as global warming.

This is very ominous for what Gandhi said would have been a very good idea: Western Civilization.

© Patrice Capitant and Patrice's Blog, 2011