“the end of history”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_History_and_the_Last_Man

The idea was that all the contentions culminated during the 20th century. World War I led to World War II led to the Cold War. When the latter ended with a clearcut victory by the greatest superpower of them all, things were settled. The socio-economic system of that superpower was deemed survival of the fittest.

But the winner couldn’t resist arrogant aggrandizement. Military bases all over the world. Encroachment into all spheres. Alienation of all Others.

Paul Kennedy predicted . . . imperial overstretch:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_Great_Powers

And so does history slog on.