How Civilizations Rise and Fall | Victor Davis Hanson

In this clip, John and Victor discuss his new book 'The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation' (2024) and its relevance today.
You can watch the full episode here: • The Presidential Elect...
In addition to writing hundreds of articles, book reviews and newspaper editorials, Hanson is also the author of twenty-four books and hosts a regular podcast series, 'The Victor Davis Hanson Show'. Hanson was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush, and was a presidential appointee in 2007-08 on the American Battle Monuments Commission. His book, The Dying Citizen, was published in October 2021. And his latest book, released on May 7th this year, The End of Everything, How Wars Descend Into Annihilation.
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Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.
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[@stephenwilliams9950]

John and your interviewee, Victor - thank you both for raising the standard of debate, and taking the trouble to reach out to us.

[@Fierbepere]

Georg Hegel, German philosopher: "The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history."

[@stephenwilliams9950]

"History repeats itself. Has to. Nobody listens." Steve Turner.

[@ihsw8]

History repeats for those who need the lesson

[@quackyduck1499]

Because We keep the hate. And forget the lesson. Because we become blinded by the hate. Again. Me.

[@paulmorgancollings7833]

Victor describing the heinous atrocities, as depraved as ANYTHING he thought imaginable in the modern world, and yet there are people that believe it to be untrue. It's a sick, evil time we're living in today. Regards and much respect to you Mr Hanson, from a regular bloke in the UK who doesn't have much hope in humanity when people can behave as they did on October 7th.

[@MrVvulf]

Orwell's predictions for the UK have already begun, yet the people sleep. In 2023 silent prayer became a thought crime. Completely silent, non-threatening, unarmed people have been arrested. "Unkind speech" is determined by anyone claiming offense, and punishable by law. How long until everything online is monitored and people are plucked from their homes for expressing anti-establishment views?

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Agree 100% from another ordinary UK citizen that's old enough, educated enough and been through enough to recognise the total folly and self destruction of much of "western do-gooders" that can't even recognise terrorists when they are right in their faces. The will bring down western society, the greatest pinnacle of human achievement in history, both technologically and politically, but that "fairness" had lead to its self destruction. We have a small chance to stand up and be counted but somehow I don't have much faith in our ability to change course.

[@sigiloXXX]

@@musiqueetmontagne I don't want to leave a link here but I REALLY recommend reading 'Planet of the Grifters' in the American Affairs Volume V, Number 2 (Summer 2021): 213-24 by Malcom Kyeyune. What an eye opener, in the vein of VDH. And thanks to John Anderson Media, he's a step above some of the newer British news media. I can really envision the willful downfall of Europe first and foremost from within. My American radically left grandkids will or just may get to the point where I am now. Glad to see the tail end of it all. I am vacillating between fury and despair. EDIT: Expat German here.

[@JohnThomas-li2vi]

I thought i was done before by listening to the other videos by this most intelligent scientific scholar, but this one did it. Im truly done now, you can stick a fork in me. This was so mentally, spiritually and visually clear as to the future if nothing is done like right now,that if Americans cant see the writing on the wall and start to prepare for the worst, then we are truly looking at the dust bin of History.

[@rosesoulis1840]

Calm down boo boo

[@TheresaReichley]

I think most of it is baked in. We’re several generations removed from sanity. And since most people are getting their morals and ideas from institutions rather than their families, there are very few people who can legitimately pull us back. We don’t have a large population of realists who view the world empirically and make decisions based on reality. Ukraine support is based on Marvel Comics thinking. Ukraine was invaded and therefore is the good guy. Good guys always win in the movies, therefore they will win. Just ignore the population difference, the weapons, the aging draftees that Ukraine abducts off the streets, and the fact that nuclear war threatens.

[@sharonalbanese8084]

Conversations between these two men are a must see. So much wisdom from VDH. The weakness of the West is incredibly concerning, and I don't see an end to this weakness any time soon.

[@ArielBerdugo]

Thank you Professor. Reminders continue to accrue value.

[@Nama-Montana]

He is correct. The worst destruction weren’t done by the Avars. They were uneducated and were looking for a place to farm and sleep. The worst was the Huns. Attila I remember learnt Latin, Greek and had stayed in Roman system and was treated fairly. He was educated; he knows the system and therefore able to break the system.

[@debralevine2869]

Thanks VDH for sharing your wisdom 🙏

[@timlarcombe6831]

I remember a quote from a Marine who fought in Vietnam and later went on be Rhode Scholar, "We are not the top species on the planet because we nice, we are a very aggressive, and the veneer of civilization is very thin"

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Great interview and illuminating conversation between one of the best interviewers and the world class historical and political mind of Professor Hanson. Quite shocking in its analogy of the present world wide situation, and the total blindness to the reality and dangers of that to western civilisation by the far left, unfortunately severely indoctrinated, young generations.

[@debbiegarza1287]

Just read that book last month! My husbands VA doctor recommended it to me!!

[@TheMrTEA-dc2eb]

"All Animals are equal! But some Animals are more equal than others!" Orwell

[@alexdavis1541]

As a chess player, if I get to the point where pretty well every move I make is defensive, I know I've had it.

[@legalmexican]

"Soft generations in the West." That sums it up nicely.

[@lawrencefrost9063]

I'm scared. I'm never scared of anything but this man scares me because he is right.

[@williamwei9524]

When you fear God, you will fear nothing else. Please lose no time in knowing Almighty God by praying to Him and reading His Word-the Holy Bible starting from New Testament. May God bless you.

[@adolfdyversiti6517]

What for? USA always exporting the wars and misery around the world. You have more than 800 military bases around the world. You have"right" to interfere every country on the world. And, you are scared in your drywall home...? Pathetic and pity. Sorry.

[@PatriciaPalmer-o3e]

💥 He's always wise, incisive and a great educator. I never fail to hear something that gives me pause for reflection.

[@leeriterii2128]

They rise in times of motivation. The people are behind the leaders and everyone does their part. They fall through complacency, everybody becomes lazy.

[@mariebentley9796]

We have those graphic scenes to this day and some of them are very recent and extremely brutal. They are still being allowed right up to 2024. It is known who the perpetrators are and yet it continues.

[@hungrymusicwolf]

I'd argue that his points are mostly about after the fall of civilization has already been decided many years ago. The underestimating of your opponents, false sense of security, and all the other mistakes tend to be the symptom of the problem rather than the problem. Even when you cover up all those weaknesses (eg. The Roman republic turning into the roman empire) their fall is still decided at that point. It's just delayed. What truly decides the fall is when the process of correcting flaws and improving what is starts to falter. Either because it has slowed down or because it is corrupted for another purpose. Eventually the common flaws of humanity (arrogance, inertia/laziness, greed, etc.) catch up, even when you cover up those weaknesses with good systems (like the Romans did) slowly but surely they still creep in where those systems are imperfect until eventually it falls.

[@rickneill6924]

A valuable interview! Can the unbalanced audio levels be fixed?

[@dumbunny7986]

Hear, hear!

[@danoconnor3720]

Very sobering.

[@mariebentley9796]

Yes ‘very soft generations in the west’ is exactly part of the problem. Where are the wise, the truly intelligent, those who care about their country? Where are the leaders of strength and bravery. Can they be counted or is the most they can manage grumbles and complaints.

[@robertbaldwin5771]

Even the bright ones in the english speaking world are in total denial about the collapse of their world.

[@DEVILDOG1964]

WE ARE ON THE FALL!!! ELECT TRUMP SAVE THE USA!

[@EatRawGarlic]

The Iranian rocket attack gave the impression that it was staged, due to the noticeably delayed response (giving away any opportunity for surprise), and the lack of damage it caused in Israel. I wouldn't be surprised if this particular attack was the result of a third party brokering some deal behind the scenes, saving the face of the Ayatollah regime somewhat, while preventing major damage in Israel and further escalation in the region for the time being.

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[@fraseredk7433]

And Cyprus

[@MichaelMcCausland-pg6qs]

We have no future leaders that are coming out of university and you know that the future leaders are always the farmers

[@aawe1]

And it's the farmers ONLY because they are the soberest and broadest-experienced because they've had to be in their profession.

[@aawe1]

(Meaning let's hope the farmers stay sober and God speed the plough)

[@michaelbates1640]

I did not realise Israel had nuclear weapons Mr Anderson.

[@strartur]

In Israeli prisons for Gaza folks and in Iraq's Abu Ghraib Western guys tortured quite profusely, too.

[@nicusortiganus]

Look like is the end of lie ,of the enemy of the people

[@scillyautomatic]

???

[@PS-js9oh]

Like the end game in chess♟... with few pieces left, the elements today couldn't be simpler or have more at stake.....

[@williamwei9524]

Stick to the motto of your founding fathers, that is In God We Trust, and you will be blessed.

[@airman122469]

That was not a motto of the founders. That was added during the Cold War.

[@MichaelMcCausland-pg6qs]

Her history has been subverted and you know that

[@PaulPearce-c7c]

John, in many countries 'Law and Order', 'Decency and Civility', 'Morals and Code' matter but not in the West, in fact perversity, debauchery, peadophilia and criminality have become the flag bearers of Western life which is why we are in decline, why we are broke, why we are nihilists, why we are without a compassed True North - choices have consequences!!!

[@MichaelMcCausland-pg6qs]

That is not the Israeli Homeland that that was stolen. Land Israelis are not even semi. They were March from Yemen.

[@MrEnniscorthy]

Victor overlooks the continued apartheid situation in Gaza by a PM whose only way to stay out of jail is to stay in power.

[@airman122469]

You have no idea what you’re talking about. Gaza is ruled by Hamas.

[@Jack2Emma]

He doesn’t overlook anything.

[@MrEnniscorthy]

@@Jack2Emma Victor is a capitalist .....that is it

[@supanova4126]

Huh? Children in microwaves?! What’s he listening to?

[@geneheck]

Thank you both. A most insightful discussion. It's a shame that actual history is not being taught to students in high school and college. I fear for the future.

[@August84118]

Fascinating commentary.

[@BubaKapao]

is the end of of begining or begining of end

[@Saunterisland]

Personally, I despise Trump, but Harris would diminish the USA in ways I can not fathom...😢

[@ralphfoley4827]

It's called complacency. Complacency will ruin.

[@jaysphilosophy1951]

Great video Victor.......You're a good guy man.....

[@drew6194]

The university students were like Black shirts, or like Mao's Red Guards, or a little of both?

[@OscarSchneegans]

It must be tough to be VDH or Thomas Sowell, warning people about the consequences of their choices decade after decade, only to be ignored.

[@daviru02]

Anybody who makes an assumption about the future without looking at history is lying

[@jeremiahjohnson9908]

China is not after Taiwan, XI could take that almost overnight. China wants to replace the U.S. as the dominant superpower and also to own the wealth and resources America has in abundance.

[@kurjan1]

Anyone know how one might obtain a 1st edition signed copy of the book?

[@Davidcash-hh1rr]

The world has bore witness to so much carnation, death and suffering but I believe they’re numb to the reality that they’re living in unfazed by the inevitable dangers, aliyah head Lookout in action. It will fall upon them like rain before they know it’s coming.

[@terrancegrant1664]

Ah, Thomas Hobbes was on to something...

[@adolfdyversiti6517]

VDH are AIPAC member?

[@ALavin-en1kr]

In the higher ages in India the fall of civilization was blamed in marrying down. That does not mean a person with money and education marrying a person without. It had more to do with the quality of the persons; their lifestyle; their openness to things; and if not having had the chance for a formal education engaging in lifelong learning to compensate. Engaging in lifelong learning is considered praiseworthy whether having had a formal education or not. People of high intellectual status marrying people of low intellectual status whose whole focus is in accumulation of goods or things is what was believed to lower civilization. It is likely true because once the emphasize is on goods rather than on virtue and on learning the civilization is on the ropes.

[@billnorris8457]

Poor John McW.

[@jaysphilosophy1951]

I hate needles.....

[@robertdenning2304]

Isaiah 5:20

[@NoobRideseMTB]

I don’t say I disagree. But where is the acknowledgment of Israel’s behaviour? Just seems like everybody knows exactly which way the wind blows. If we are to properly examine the barbarism of humanity, when it flares up, we ought to understand its cause. We might do well to look upon troubles with a clarity that is true, in the hope that the people blinded by compassion can have faith in our viewpoint - otherwise why would they listen? If we just say: “campus protests, bad!” Or is it that we struggle to make terms with the imbalance of power - we hide behind the difficulty of reality, and prefer to insist that millions of $$$ in campus damages is in some way comparable to innocent lives being lost… Baffles me. Remember this: Oct 7th happened. You can’t bring those people back. The job of people distant from the trauma is to try to temper the emotions. I don’t see how you can argue against that - unless you yourself are blinded by rage. You could claim, “strong response is necessary!” We know how that plays out… So why do we advocate for it. Why do we, on the one hand support barbarism, whilst simultaneously denigrating those calling for an end to it, preferring to generalise in some form of how they are harbouring nefarious intent. Come on. Most college kids are innocent humans raised on Disney films and safe spaces - why do we presume they are the adolescent version of the SS?? Doesn’t add up. Maybe if Israeli’s didn’t snipe children in the face..? I’m not saying Oct 7th was anything but wicked, but are we to become the monster, to fight a monster. How do we reconcile with that notion. We cant. And this interview I’m even reaches this conclusion, whilst claiming something opposite..?