The Great Changes in a Century

The Great Changes in a Century and the Trend of "De-Imperialization"

The current international situation is in a great change that has not been seen in a century, with various conflicts and intricacies. The most core theme is the global competition between the wave of "de-imperialization" and the modern state system. The representative manifestations of this trend are the Russian-Ukrainian War and the Israeli-Iranian War. On the surface, this is a geopolitical conflict, but in fact, it is a head-on collision between the modern state system and the imperial system.

In such wars, the two warring parties often represent different stages of historical development. One side is a modern country based on democratic system, market mechanism and technological innovation; the other side is a legacy of the empire system that follows feudal hierarchy, strongman will and concentrated resources. These wars are not just a contest of military strength and resources, but also a deep confrontation of institutional advantages and disadvantages, technological potential and social vitality.

1. Why is the imperial system bound to fail?

Today's war has moved away from the traditional "human wave tactics" and resource consumption wars, and has entered a new era driven by technology, information transparency, and system operation efficiency. In this era, the competition between countries is essentially whether the system can stimulate the potential of science and technology and whether it can form a fast, real, and multi-layered feedback mechanism.

The imperial system is essentially a hierarchical power structure, with leaders at the top and society lacking real feedback. All information is reported and distorted layer by layer, and ultimately the leader receives only a self-hypnotic "illusion". The state has lost its ability to correct errors, and decision-making deviations have accumulated to the point of system collapse. Today's Russia is on such a dangerous edge: the leader's will is the state's will, domestic opposition voices are suppressed, and war decisions cannot be corrected. The imperial system is like a giant ship without a rudder, moving rapidly in the fog.

Relatively speaking, although modern countries are often criticized for being "noisy" and "inefficient", it is precisely the pluralistic expression, news supervision and opposition checks and balances under this democratic system that have built a real social feedback network and improved the country's long-term governance resilience. In terms of scientific and technological innovation, resource allocation, and international cooperation, the modern system has demonstrated adaptability and vitality far beyond that of imperial countries.

2. War is technology, that is, system

The Russian-Ukrainian war revealed a new reality: war is no longer just about weapons against weapons, but about institutions against institutions and technology against technology. Technologically advanced countries are like living in a four-dimensional space, and can achieve a "dimensionality reduction strike" against countries that still think in three dimensions. Relying on the support of the Western system, Ukraine quickly accessed high-tech systems such as satellite communications, precision firepower, and unmanned weapons, greatly improving its battlefield efficiency. This is not something that can be accomplished by simple technology transfer, but is determined by the high incentives for innovation and collaboration behind the system.

3. Morality comes first, where the people want it

The deeper difference is that the modern system is more able to win the hearts of the people. The imperial system relies on strongman worship and historical narratives to maintain "national glory", often in the name of national rejuvenation, but in reality it is to consolidate the leader's personal power. It sacrifices the basic desire of ordinary people for freedom, dignity and a prosperous life. In countries where the "great leader" is highly deified, almost without exception, the living standards of ordinary people are not high.

In contrast, Ukraine has won wide international moral support for its resistance to Russia's all-out attack. Many countries that were once deeply oppressed by the Soviet empire, such as Poland, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, firmly support Ukraine, not only based on geopolitical interests, but also out of strong aversion to "imperial restoration." This historical memory has made them determined to move forward in the tide of "de-imperialization."

4. De-imperialization: The future historical direction

In the grand narrative of "a century of change", de-imperialization is not a short-lived trend, but a general trend of history. From the decline of Russia, the shock of Iran, to the structural crisis faced by more countries that are reviving their old dreams of empire, it is fully demonstrated that a closed system will eventually lose its vitality, and hierarchical autocracy will eventually corrode itself. In the new era, national competition is no longer a competition for land and population, but a competition for institutional transparency, innovation mechanisms and humanistic care capabilities.

Conclusion:

De-imperialization is the most profound political process in the world today. It means a farewell to the feudal hierarchy, the awakening of ordinary people, and the victory of freedom, dignity and institutional progress. From the Russo-Ukrainian War to the Israeli-Iranian War, the modern state system will eventually win the recognition of history with its technological advantages, institutional advantages and moral legitimacy. This is a big game that will determine the world pattern in the next 100 years, and history will eventually stand on the side of the people (this article is purely an academic discussion, and I do not hold any political stance, hereby declare).

Peter Lee in Toronto