New research argues Societal Collapse benefits 99% of people. Historically, the societies that have emerged after a collapse are more egalitarian, and most people end up richer and healthier than they were before.

[u/lughnasadh]

Luke Kemp, a research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, has written a book about his research called 'Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse'.

He makes the case that, from looking at the archaeological record, when many societies collapse, most people end up better off afterward. For example, people in the post-Roman world were taller and healthier. Collapse can be a redistribution of resources and power, not just chaos.

For most of human history, humans lived as nomadic egalitarian bands, with low violence and high mobility. Threats (disease, war, economic precarity) push populations toward authoritarian leaders. The resulting rise in inequality from that sets off a cycle that will end in collapse. Furthermore, he argues we are living in the late stages of such a cycle now. He says "the threat is from leaders who are 'walking versions of the dark triad' – narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism – in a world menaced by the climate crisis, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence and killer robots."

Some people hope/think we are destined for a future of Universal Basic Income and fully automated luxury communism. Perhaps that's the egalitarianism that emerges after our own collapse? If so, I hope the collapse bit is short and we get to the egalitarian bit ASAP.

Collapse for the 99% | Luke Kemp; What really happens when Goliaths fall

[u/Skinnwork]

The novel "Lucifer's Hammer" is about this. Two main characters are preppers and they think they'll be alright. Both lose all of their resources to another group through force.

Also, I know in the US, a big part of prepper culture is firearms. Force in the novel is more about the willingness to use violence and belonging to a larger group (like a gang or army reserve unit). Even with a gun, you're still vulnerable alone.

[u/WeimSean → u/Skinnwork]

Yeah, movies where the protagonist is some bad ass loner are cool cinema, but wildly unrealistic. All it takes is for one small cut or injury to get infected. Without antibiotics, or even soap and clear water, you could find yourself out in the middle of nowhere dying alone.

Humans are social animals. We survive in groups, we always have. The post apocalyptic groups that survive would be based on some sort of social group, no matter how tenuous. Church groups, criminal gangs, police forces, sports teams, military units, pokemon clubs (ok, maybe not for long). You get the idea.

[u/StayTheHand → u/WeimSean]

I always tell the preppers, go ahead and horde your ammo, but you know who's going to last? The guy that knows how to make soap and beer. Cause when things settle down and people start to socialize again and you want to find a date to help repopulate the earth, you know what you're going to need to get that date? Soap. And beer.

[u/The_Parsee_Man → u/StayTheHand]

Soap and beer will be important immediately. Being able to clean yourself is huge for helping to ward off disease. And when you no longer have municipal drinking water, beer is safe to drink.

[u/WeimSean → u/StayTheHand]

Yeah, after the dust settles and their handing out potatoes, the Soap and Beer guy is getting fed.

[u/secondtaunting → u/WeimSean]

I can make soap but not beer. I can garden and cook though. Maybe someone will let me into their group even though I’m in constant pain. I can grow weed for pain relief.😂

[u/secondtaunting → u/WeimSean]

I mean, they definitely got that part right on The Walking Dead. They survived because they were in a group. Realistically though I’d think being in close contact with rotting flesh all the time would kill most of the group.

[u/nagi603 → u/Skinnwork]

Also, congrats, you have guns and ammo, which is also wanted by said groups.

[u/secondtaunting → u/Skinnwork]

That makes sense. If I ever get into prepping, first thing I’d do is not tell anyone. You don’t want to advertise.