The Western Empire

The Empire that dominates the world today is based in the USA, but in a broader sense, the "western empire" is a coalition of the nations of the Northern Germanic tribes. That is, it's comprised of the countries like France and Britain plus the US. In a prior era this group was referred to as "Christendom", but the roots are much deeper than that. They're probably genetic, and maybe there's a hidden religious tradition that goes back thousands of years that predates any modern religion by ages.

For most of their history, this group has been at odds and fought long bloody wars for dominance, but at the same time expanded around the globe, so by 1900 western countries were in control of almost every region of the planet. After WWI, and WWII the western countries began to work together and engage in trade and internal economy building rather than fight with each other. That was probably helped along by the communist countries being a common enemy.

The idea that there could be a global government based on mutual shared interest seemed plausible in that era. That is, in the era of expansion at the peak of a world spanning all consuming Empire, global government seemed plausible. In an era of contraction, however, the idea of a global government seems extremely far fetched. In fact, the idea of existing national governments seems extremely far fetched.

In Australia, there's not enough electricity to go around; the same thing is sometimes true in California and Texas. At the same time baizuo (aka shitlib) governments insist on green energy policies and mandatory EVs. Countries in Europe seem to be in an even worse scenario from the energy point of view. Germany might freeze this winter and see industry grind to a halt. Food shortages seem like a plausible future occurrence.

The answer to these problems will not be more government at any level. In fact, it seems extremely likely that all the governments are going to crack up, especially in Europe. The EU is a big parasite. What will it offer to freezing citizens? Fake money pulled out of a banker's ass?

The go-to Empire example is the Roman Empire. It's been analyzed to death, but a fairly recent paper does a nice job explaining the mechanical causes of its undoing. It's engine of expansion failed once the cost of conquest of new territory was too high, and when the tax farming system failed.

The engine of expansion of the west is cheap energy, specifically oil. Without oil, the system doesn't work anymore. It can't be replaced with solar or wind, or even nuclear power plants. The number of nuclear power plants required to power 300 million EVs in the USA is absurd. 13 million barrels of oil are consumed per day in the US by transportation. That's the equivalent power output of 920 nuclear power plants. (The US currently has 55 nuclear power plants)

Once Rome hit the wall, it lasted another 150 years or so; 150 years of constant civil war and decline by the way.