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← A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s…
16 connected korrents · 14 moments from 28 Jan 2022 to 14 Oct 2026.
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startups Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s centre failed, its successors were left without the resources or administration to do what it had done. A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s centre failed, its successors were left without the resources or administration to do what it had done. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: An institution can outlive the state that built it: the Church survived the collapse of Roman political authority when Rome’s other institutions did not. — tap to centre the map on it An institution can outlive the state that built it: the Church survived the collapse of Roman political authority when Rome’s other institutions did not. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state capacity, not merely a change of management, and the evidence for that loss is ample. — tap to centre the map on it The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state capacity, not merely a change of management, and the evidence for that loss is ample. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Roman economic growth came from institutions rather than from technology, which is why it did not outlive the institutions that produced it. — tap to centre the map on it Roman economic growth came from institutions rather than from technology, which is why it did not outlive the institutions that produced it. Last stated 4 years ago
26 Aug 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-08-26 — tap for who they are
Same subject: The papacy made Italy uniquely unstable in Europe, because each new pope inherited a precedent that he could overthrow any government he liked. — tap to centre the map on it The papacy made Italy uniquely unstable in Europe, because each new pope inherited a precedent that he could overthrow any government he liked. Last stated 4 months ago
16 Jun 2026
AP
Ada Palmer — holds since 2026-06-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A government only has legitimacy through long continuity, and once that thread is cut one regime change reliably becomes five. — tap to centre the map on it A government only has legitimacy through long continuity, and once that thread is cut one regime change reliably becomes five. Last stated 4 months ago
16 Jun 2026
AP
Ada Palmer — holds since 2026-06-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Urban life in the West did not merely change after Rome, it practically vanished, and had to be built again from scratch centuries later. — tap to centre the map on it Urban life in the West did not merely change after Rome, it practically vanished, and had to be built again from scratch centuries later. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Concentrated power has been bad at every moment of human history, and a society is best off when power is spread as widely as possible. — tap to centre the map on it Concentrated power has been bad at every moment of human history, and a society is best off when power is spread as widely as possible. Last stated 3 months ago
28 Jul 2026
SA
Sam Altman — holds since 2026-07-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: 'As long as it takes' lacks urgency, and it is a formula available to Ukraine's allies precisely because they are not the ones doing the fighting. — tap to centre the map on it 'As long as it takes' lacks urgency, and it is a formula available to Ukraine's allies precisely because they are not the ones doing the fighting. Last stated a year ago
10 Oct 2025
LF
Lawrence Freedman — holds since 2025-10-10 — tap for who they are
Same subject: 9/11 and Osama bin Laden's actions fundamentally shaped the world we live in today. — tap to centre the map on it 9/11 and Osama bin Laden's actions fundamentally shaped the world we live in today. Last stated a month ago
11 Sept 2026
MY
Matthew Yglesias — holds since 2026-09-11 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A ceasefire along the current lines would end the killing and still leave a long-term settlement between Russia and Ukraine possible. — tap to centre the map on it A ceasefire along the current lines would end the killing and still leave a long-term settlement between Russia and Ukraine possible. Last stated 2 months ago
26 Aug 2026
BM
Branko Milanovic — holds since 2026-08-26 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A century of fire suppression policy in the American West has dangerously overloaded forests with fuel and made megafires more likely. — tap to centre the map on it A century of fire suppression policy in the American West has dangerously overloaded forests with fuel and made megafires more likely. Last stated 2 months ago
22 Aug 2026
JP
Jennifer Pahlka — holds since 2026-08-22 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A Chinese crewed landing on the Moon before America returns would be a defeat for the free world. — tap to centre the map on it A Chinese crewed landing on the Moon before America returns would be a defeat for the free world. Last stated 2 months ago
18 Aug 2026
CH
Casey Handmer — holds since 2025-10-31 — tap for who they are
EB
Eric Berger — holds since 2026-08-18 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A city's first rail line comes in at a reasonable cost and every line after it does not, because the follow-up outgrows the in-house team that oversaw the pilot. — tap to centre the map on it A city's first rail line comes in at a reasonable cost and every line after it does not, because the follow-up outgrows the in-house team that oversaw the pilot. Last stated 2 years ago
7 Dec 2024
AL
Alon Levy — holds since 2024-12-07 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it. — tap to centre the map on it A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it. Last stated 2 years ago
1 Dec 2024
AE
Alice Evans — holds since 2024-12-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power. — tap to centre the map on it A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power. Last stated a week ago
14 Oct 2026
PK
Paul Krugman — holds since 2026-10-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system. — tap to centre the map on it A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system. Last stated 6 months ago
9 Apr 2026
NS
Noah Smith — holds since 2026-04-09 — tap for who they are
At the centre
A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s centre failed, its successors were left without the resources or administration to do what it had done.
Holds Read this korrent →
An institution can outlive the state that built it: the Church survived the collapse of Roman political authority when Rome’s other institutions did not.
Holds
The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state capacity, not merely a change of management, and the evidence for that loss is ample.
Holds
Roman economic growth came from institutions rather than from technology, which is why it did not outlive the institutions that produced it.
Holds
The papacy made Italy uniquely unstable in Europe, because each new pope inherited a precedent that he could overthrow any government he liked.
Holds
A government only has legitimacy through long continuity, and once that thread is cut one regime change reliably becomes five.
Holds
Urban life in the West did not merely change after Rome, it practically vanished, and had to be built again from scratch centuries later.
Holds
Concentrated power has been bad at every moment of human history, and a society is best off when power is spread as widely as possible.
Holds
'As long as it takes' lacks urgency, and it is a formula available to Ukraine's allies precisely because they are not the ones doing the fighting.
Holds
9/11 and Osama bin Laden's actions fundamentally shaped the world we live in today.
Holds
A ceasefire along the current lines would end the killing and still leave a long-term settlement between Russia and Ukraine possible.
Holds
A century of fire suppression policy in the American West has dangerously overloaded forests with fuel and made megafires more likely.
Holds
A Chinese crewed landing on the Moon before America returns would be a defeat for the free world.
Holds
A city's first rail line comes in at a reasonable cost and every line after it does not, because the follow-up outgrows the in-house team that oversaw the pilot.
Holds
A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it.
Holds
A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power.
Holds
A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system.
Holds