Democracy requires an informed citizenry able to question its government.
Richard N. HaassRead
When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at home, or a mixture of the two. This was the case for the Soviet Union. Other powers lose their privileged position with the emergence of new, stronger powers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great powers decline due to overextension or the rise of new powers.
Richard N. Haass highlights two main reasons for the decline of powerful nations: one is self-exhaustion caused by imperial overreach and lack of domestic investment, while the other is the inevitable competition from emerging stronger powers. This reflects historical patterns where, for instance, the Soviet Union's downfall was a result of these factors, indicating that no power is permanent.
Themes
PowerDeclineHistoryPoliticsEmergence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about international relations, one could use this quote to illustrate the decline of historical empires.
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