"Los Angeles - New Year's weekend traditionally is a time for us to reflect, and to make resolutions based on our reflections. In this fresh year, with the United States seemingly at the height of its power and at the start of a new presidential term, Americans are increasingly concerned and divided about where we are going.

"How long can America remain ascendant? Where will we stand 10 years from now, or even next year? Such questions seem especially appropriate this year. History warns us that when once-powerful societies collapse, they tend to do so quickly and unexpectedly. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise: peak power usually means peak population, peak needs, and hence peak vulnerability."

Other links

• http://www.mcgoodwin.net/pages/gungermsteel.html Summary
• http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1391334,00.html Never ask a Viking for advice
• http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/societies/default.htm
• http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s199676.htm
• http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1311929/posts?page=55
• http://news.synearth.net/newsItems/departments/communityOfMinds Community of minds

Jared Diamond is author of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed