Cliodynamics of End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path of Political Disintegration | Featuring Dr. Peter Turchin
Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series Presents:
Cliodynamics of End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path of Political Disintegration
Featuring Dr. Peter Turchin
Complexity Science Hub Vienna
Join us for a compelling lecture by Dr. Peter Turchin, one of the foremost experts on the intersection of historical data, complexity science, and social dynamics. In his presentation, Cliodynamics of End Times, Dr. Turchin explores the deep structural forces that shape our social and political systems—and how these forces are contributing to rising turbulence in the United States and Western Europe.
Dr. Turchin’s research delves into the hidden factors behind what he calls our “Age of Discord,” providing an insightful analysis of the wealth pump that has been transferring wealth from the "99 percent" to the "1 percent" over the past two generations. This economic divide has led to a frustrating overproduction of elites and a growing sense of discontent among the public, creating fertile ground for political unrest and disintegration.
Drawing on historical data and the tools of complexity science, Dr. Turchin will explain why the overproduction of elites, along with economic instability, can lead to violent political rupture—and why we may already be on the brink of such a transformation. Through this analysis, he provides critical insights into the potential future of political communities and their vulnerability to both internal and external shocks.
About Dr. Peter Turchin:
Dr. Peter Turchin is a Project Leader at the Complexity Science Hub Vienna, a Research Associate at the University of Oxford, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Connecticut. He is also the Founding Director of Seshat: Global History Databank. His groundbreaking work investigates the processes that shape human societies, particularly the evolution of cooperation in large, complex societies, and the factors that contribute to the resilience—or disintegration—of these societies. Dr. Turchin's notable works include End Times (2023), Ultrasociety (2015), and the forthcoming The Great Holocene Transformation.
Don't miss this timely and thought-provoking lecture on the forces shaping the political landscape of today and tomorrow.
Thursday May 1st, 2025, 4:30 – 6:00 PM
Location: Crotty Hall, Room 209