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0 points0823498723498722y ago0 comments

A disadvantage of attaining hegemony is that lacking unifying external enemies, humans tend to squabble into internal camps. See the Diadochi after Alexander, Blues & Greens for the Byzantines, Guelphs & Ghibellines during the HRE, etc.

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Ensorceled2y ago· 2 in thread

As an outsider, I would not characterize the current divisions in the US as a mere "squabble into internal camps".

aebtebeten2y ago

The swiss Sonderbund war (an 1847 declared protestant/catholic civil war), with ~100 deaths, was resolved much less[0] bloodily than the 1861 US civil war (hundreds of thousands dead). I was rating "squabble" because unless I am miscounting, the total number of partisan deaths directly[1] attributable to current US divisions are still only ~10.

[0] come to think of it, less even than the "Alamo": like the US civil war, also in defense of slavery.

[1] NB possible "stochastic terrorism" not included; excess deaths due to fear of vaccination definitely not included.

Ensorceled2y ago

> NB possible "stochastic terrorism" not included; excess deaths due to fear of vaccination definitely not included.

Yeah, even counting official domestic terrorism deaths we're into much larger numbers.

But I get your perspective ... I guess I'm worried about the direction.

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