BlomCast [49] Luke Kemp — Elites and the Collapse of Empires
Aug 10, 2025
In this discussion, Luke Kemp, a Fellow at Cambridge's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and author of 'Goliath's Curse', explores how elites contribute to societal collapses. He argues that collapse often benefits the majority, challenging the narrative that history favors the rich. Luke examines the positive health outcomes post-empire and highlights the role of geography and resource visibility in shaping societies. He warns of modern challenges from systemic risks like AI and climate change, proposing that democracy can survive if we embrace deliberative solutions.
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Collapse Seen Through Elite Eyes
- Historical accounts and monuments bias our view toward elite suffering during collapse.
- Luke Kemp argues collapse often benefited most people, not just elites.
Archaeology Favors Elite Remains
- Archaeology skews toward durable urban elites while rural lives vanish from the record.
- Kemp emphasizes movement to countryside often explains apparent population loss.
Height Reflects Political Economy
- Human stature tracks health and often falls under centralized, extractive polities.
- Kemp notes people got taller after Rome's fall, implying better living conditions.
