Monday Edition: What Makes Empires Fall?

What Makes Empires Fall?

Every empire wants to believe it will last forever. None do. Rome, the Ottomans, Britain, and the Qing Dynasty (and maybe the United States) all looked unconquerable and indefatigable, yet they all fell.

History shows that great powers collapse for clear and measurable reasons. They spend more than they can afford, expand beyond what they can control, a…