Op-ed

Echoes of Desperation: The Violent Twilight of Fading Empires and Lessons for the Modern World

The echoes of Rome’s relentless military campaigns, the Byzantine Empire’s catastrophic sackings, the Ottoman Empire’s violent suppressions, and the British Empire’s brutal repressions are not just distant memories but relevant warnings.

Kennedy Mmari

July 16, 2024

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Empires rise and fall; this is a lesson etched into the annals of history. But what happens when an empire begins to crumble? What drives a once-mighty power to descend into chaos and violence?

The final days of empires are often marked by desperation and brutality as they struggle to maintain control and influence. These great powers, which once relied on diplomacy and soft power to expand and sustain their dominion, increasingly resort to military aggression and economic coercion as their grip weakens.

The result is a pattern of violence that spreads across regions and nations, destabilising entire continents and leaving a legacy of destruction and suffering. The Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire provide vivid examples of this phenomenon.

As these empires faced internal decay and external threats, they abandoned diplomatic strategies favouring military force. The invasions, occupations, and brutal repressions that followed were driven by a desperate need to assert control and project strength in the face of declining influence. This violent turn often exacerbated the problems these empires sought to solve, leading to a downward spiral of conflict and instability.

Today, we see echoes of this historical pattern in the behaviour of the modern Western empire, particularly the United States. Faced with waning global influence and rising challenges from emerging powers, the U.S. has increasingly relied on military interventions and economic sanctions, sidelining diplomatic efforts.

The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the arming of factions in Syria, and the support of military campaigns in Yemen are contemporary examples of how the West resorts to force when diplomacy fails. As we reflect on these parallels, we must ask ourselves: is the Western empire on the brink of a similar fate? History lessons are clear, but whether they will be heeded remains to be seen.

The Roman Empire: From diplomacy to conquest

Picture Rome in its prime, the epitome of power and civilisation. Now imagine it crumbling, not overnight, but through a slow, painful descent. As it began to lose its grip, the Roman Empire increasingly resorted to military aggression to maintain control over its territories and stave off external threats.

In its declining years, Rome’s diplomatic efforts faltered. Once skilled in negotiating alliances and absorbing diverse cultures, the empire turned to brute force. The invasions of Germany and the campaigns against the Sassanid Empire were marked by their ferocity and the sheer desperation to reassert dominance.

Rome’s declining ability to manage its vast territories through diplomacy led to an era of relentless military campaigns, spreading violence and instability.

The Byzantine Empire: The siege of Constantinople

Travel east to Constantinople, the jewel of the Byzantine Empire, and picture its majestic walls and vibrant culture. How did this eastern bastion of Rome meet its violent end? The Byzantine Empire, facing internal decay and external threats, increasingly relied on military force as diplomacy failed.

The final blow came with the Fourth Crusade in 1204, when Western European crusaders, initially bound for Jerusalem, diverted to Constantinople. The city was brutally sacked, a catastrophe driven by political intrigue and failed diplomacy.

The Byzantine Empire’s weakening influence and inability to forge effective alliances led to this violent episode, signalling a shift from negotiation to outright conflict.

The Ottoman Empire: Aggression and decline

Once a formidable power straddling Europe, Asia, and Africa, the Ottoman Empire experienced a similar trajectory. As its diplomatic influence waned, the empire turned to military force to assert its will.

The decline saw a series of violent confrontations, such as the Crimean War (1853-1856), in which the Ottomans, allied with Britain and France, fought against Russia to maintain control over their territories.

The empire’s weakening grip on its Balkan territories led to the brutal suppression of uprisings and revolts. The inability to manage these regions diplomatically resulted in a cycle of violence, culminating in the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), during which the Ottomans lost much of their European territory. The empire’s declining influence was marked by increasing militarisation and violent repression.

The British Empire: From diplomacy to brutality

The British Empire, the largest in history, also illustrates the violent tendencies of a declining power. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, as nationalist movements gained momentum across the colonies, Britain’s response grew increasingly militaristic.

The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, a rebellion against British rule, was met with brutal repression in India. British forces committed atrocities to crush the revolt, abandoning diplomatic solutions in favour of sheer force.

Similarly, during the Boer War (1899-1902) in South Africa, the British employed scorched-earth tactics and established concentration camps to subdue the Boer resistance. The brutality of these measures underscored the empire’s reliance on military might as its diplomatic influence waned.

The Russian Empire: From diplomacy to force

The decline of the Russian Empire in the early 20th century also offers insights into how empires resort to violence. As internal unrest grew, the empire’s ability to maintain control through diplomatic means diminished.

The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and World War I highlighted Russia’s increasing reliance on military force to assert its influence, ultimately contributing to the empire’s collapse.

The Soviet Union, the successor to the Russian Empire, followed a similar path in its later years. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a desperate attempt to expand influence in a region slipping from its grasp. The prolonged conflict drained resources and morale, hastening the Soviet Union’s disintegration.

The United States: The modern Western empire

Turning to the present, we observe the United States, often regarded as the modern Western empire, displaying similar behaviour patterns. As its global influence faces challenges, the U.S. has increasingly resorted to military interventions and economic sanctions, sidelining diplomatic efforts.

The invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 exemplify this shift. Both conflicts were justified on tenuous grounds, leading to prolonged occupations and significant loss of life. The reliance on military force over diplomatic negotiations has created instability in these regions.

In recent years, the U.S. has continued to supply weapons to conflict zones rather than broker peace agreements. In the Syrian Civil War, for instance, the U.S. has supported various factions with arms and training, fueling a protracted and bloody conflict.

Similarly, in Yemen, U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia have contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The current war in Ukraine, where the U.S. and the entire Western world have provided substantial military aid to resist Russian aggression, and the ongoing support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza further illustrate how the U.S. leans on military solutions rather than pursuing diplomatic avenues for peace.

The word peace has been absent in the pursuit of a somewhat political decision for a better world, leaving thousands of Ukrainians and Russians dead, wounded and property worth billions of dollars destroyed.

The Modern Western Empire: A fragile grip on power

Examining the decline of these historical empires reveals a clear pattern: as diplomatic influence wanes, military aggression and economic coercion rise. The Western empire, in its current form, is no different.

The tools of its power—military might and economic dominance—are increasingly challenged. Once a cornerstone of Western influence, diplomacy has taken a backseat as nations assert their sovereignty and reject Western hegemony.

Economic sanctions, military interventions, and covert operations are the blunt instruments of a desperate empire. However, as history shows, such measures often lead to further destabilisation.

The rise of China and Russia, the resurgence of nationalist movements, and the growing push for autonomy signal a world moving away from Western dominance.

Lessons for the future

History teaches us that empires’ declines are often violent and tumultuous. The Western empire, in its current state, faces similar challenges. Internal divisions, external pressures, and a reliance on military and economic power over diplomacy signal a precarious future.

Each historical decline illustrates how the abandonment of diplomacy in favour of force can accelerate an empire’s fall and multiply its suffering.

As we reflect on these parallels, it becomes crucial for the modern Western world to reassess its strategies. Can it find a way to navigate its decline without descending into chaos? The reliance on military interventions and economic sanctions must be reconsidered in favour of genuine diplomatic efforts.

The global community is watching, and the lessons of history are clear: the road to a more stable and peaceful transition lies in dialogue, cooperation, and respect for the sovereignty of all nations.

Whether the Western world will heed these lessons remains to be seen, but the stakes are higher than ever. The fate of future generations depends on the choices made today.

Kennedy Mmari is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Serengeti Bytes, a Dar es Salaam-based communications, public relations and digital media agency. He’s available at kennedy@serengetibytes.com and on X as @KennedyMmari. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please get in touch with our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.