The Search For Survival.
By Matthew Clark
Sir John Bagot Glubb, later nicknamed 'Pasha Glubb', was born on April 16, 1897, at Preston, Lancashire, England. His mother was Letitia Bagot, while Glubbs father was (Major General Sir) Fredrick Manley Glubb. Upon reaching adulthood John Glubb was able to take advantage of the fact he was the son of a British army officer to gain acceptance into Royal Military Academy. Nevertheless the commencement of the First World War interrupted Glubbs academic studies. While serving in Europe the young Englishman suffered a severe injury to his jaw. Later in life he would often joke about his looks, referring to his jaw as an example. Indeed John Glubb bore a startling resemblance to the fictitious Colonel Blimp. Yet the young military man was anything but a bumbler. Courageous, studious, and adventurous Glubb took a major step in his life's path by volunteering for service in Iraq after the First Great War had ended. There he so impressed his peers, and superiors, that he quickly rose in the ranks, eventually assuming command of the Arab (Transjordan) Legion. It was a position the Englishman would hold from 1939-1956.
In 1938 Glubb married Muriel Rosemary Forbes. Together the couple would raise 4 children (3 of them adopted) while remaining together for the rest of their natural lives.
Military endevours were not the only interests the commander pursued. Having acquired a taste for European history during his upbringing 'Pasha' Glubb extended his studies to North Africa and the Middle East's past. Over the years he would pen 20 scholarly books on either/or on European and Middle Eastern (mainly Arab) history.
Ironically John Glubbs most seminole work is not a book yet rather a 26 page essay entitled "The Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival." Authored in 1978, the thesis was published by Blackwood (of Edinburgh).
At the time of it's publication "The Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival" was given a modest reception by public and academics alike. Many who read the literaure appeared to miss the aim of the 'Pashas' article, focusing instead on some of the more controversial aspects in Glubbs analysis of historical empires.
In "The Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival," the military commander is arguing for a more thorough, as well as a wider ranging study of the field of history. Glubb disparaged the singular focus on national history, only deviated from to look at a few sensational occassions in international events. To make history truly informative the Englishman asserted, it was necessary to scrutinize the worlds past as much as was/is possible. By doing so the patterns of man's (humans) historical behaviour would be revealed, allowing for a more accurate view of former times.
Why put so much effort into learning about days of old? What was the value of such an extensive knowledge of history? " To avoid the cycle of rise and decline which had been experienced by every empire, nation and civilization, to have ever existed," answered the 'Pasha.'
What was the cycle of that rise and Fall? Here Glubb provided the 'sizzle' of his article. A 'sizzle' which is of interest in any age, yet is expanded many times over during these troubled contemporary times, especially for western nations, and their allies.
Empires, explained the military commander, usually (not always) lasted for approxiametely 10 generations (250 years) from start to finish. During those 250 years the empire (great nation or civilization) experienced 6 stages of development. Stage 1 was titled 'The Age of Pioneers, or the Outburst. These pioneers generally are poor, aggressive, have some form of homogenity, and are very patriarchial. They value truth more than their adversaries. What characterizes them above all is their extreme energy and courage. This courage was not only in battle yet is extended to all areas of life, especially in interacting with nature (climbing the largest mountain etc.) Also spiritual belief is of ultra importance to these folks.
Next is the Age of Conquest! Still accustomed to hardship, hardy, entrepreneurial, very aggressive, little will dissuade these people from their desire to rule. Having absorbed the tactics of their more sophisicated rivals they start to acquire the territories of their opponents. These successes instill a belief in mission, that God has chosen them to conquer and rule, maybe forever! Spiritual belief remains ultra important.
The Age of Conquest is followed by The Age of Commerce. People are still hardy. There is still a belief in mission. Spiritual belief and the effectiveness of truth remain prevalent. Nevertheless martial glory gives way to economic concerns. Merchants and Businessman drive public policy.
In the Fourth period an Age of Affluence occurs. Pursuit of individual success replaces honour and adventure. Gold replaces duty. Truth and religious belief decline. Public policy switches from offensive (expanding the empire) to defensive (keeping possession of what we have). Controversially Glubb notes that the empire experiences a flood of foreigners which creates social tensions within society.
From the Age of Affluence the Empire slips into The Age Intellect. In this epoch there is a proliferation of academic institutions. Endless debate causes a loss of homogenity. Political rifts become unsolvable. While an exterior surveillance of the state gives the appearance of strenght, in truth a mortal rot has set in. Leisury pursuits occupy too much of the citizenry's schedule. Celebrities become heroes. Sympathy for other cultures expands. Religion becomes discredited.
Finally there is the Age of Decadence-Bread and Circuses. Religion is abandoned by the bulk of the population. Frivolity and Sensuality pursuits explode. Wealth concentrates. In general the state becomes dysfunctional. There are very few, if any, shared values amongst the Empires inhabitants. At this point the Empire, having fatally weakened itself, often succumbs to an external power on the rise.
John Bagot Glubb listed many more symptons and factors not mentioned in this short post. While some justifiable criticisms can be (and have been) leveled at Glubbs historical analysis, such as the need for more focus on currency collapse during decline, it is arguably a relevant piece in studying the cycle of civilizations. For anyone trying to understand the rather distressing state of western nations during the current period his "Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival" is a must read. It is easily obtainable on the internet. Hopefully the reader takes advantage of this oppurtunity to read such a thought provoking piece of literature!
References:
Conciliators-guild-org/media/blog/sir-john-glubb-the-fate-of-empires
lives of the first world war iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1365770
University of North Carolina Wilmington webpage
7 Stages of Empire by Clark Grey Howell
August 29, 2013
The Life Cycles of Empires
by Simrarjit Singh Arora Published November 28, 2018
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