Why societies fall – rethinking risk, power, and resilience across history

What if collapse isn’t a single moment, but a messy, uneven process with winners, losers, and surprising forms of renewal?

In this inaugural episode of Cross Currents, three ASRA network members – Luke Kemp, Author and Researcher, Megan Shipman, the Cascade Institute, and Sody’s Daniel Hoyer – come together for a wide-ranging conversation inspired by Luke’s new book Goliath’s Curse.

They challenge familiar narratives of societal decline, drawing on history, complexity science, and contemporary systemic risks to explore what truly drives societies to fracture or transform. Across the discussion, they examine why collapse looks different depending on who you are, where you live, and which systems you rely on – and why modern interconnectedness raises the stakes. The trio explore the dynamics behind rising fragility, from inequality to demographic pressures, and reflect on whether societies can disrupt entrenched power structures to shift toward more hopeful pathways.

Cross Currents is a series where ASRA network members get together in conversation to explore the dynamics, disruptions, and discoveries shaping our world. The views expressed are those of our participants and don't necessarily reflect ASRA's institutional positions.