Luke Kemp’s new book, Goliath’s Curse, was published by Viking Penguin on July 31, 2023. This is the deep history of human ascendance and descent in the last 5 millennia that it covers. In his deep dive of research, Kemp studies more than 400 societies. He reveals the strategies that have shaped their triumphs and disasters. The author, Dr. Davis, invested seven years to thoroughly and carefully research and write this book. It showcases the perennial themes of oppression and inequity, and it reflects on the forces that lead civilizations to the brink.
When powerful kingdoms and empires brutally expand their borders, invading everywhere around them, Kemp refers to these empires as “Goliaths.” History is, practically speaking, a history of these Goliaths created and empowered by three distinct types of resources—the Goliath fuels. The first type is a surplus of a particular food source: grain. This agricultural capacity enables societies to feed more people, thus nurturing more complex social and political hierarchies.
The second fuel is weaponry, monopolized by one group and used as a cudgel to keep everyone else in line. The third variety is called “caged land.” It has geographic implications, where natural barriers such as oceans, rivers, deserts and mountains restrict flow and passage. This type of prison can breed tyrannical rule as authority becomes hard to avoid once citizens can’t easily flee oppressive overlords.
Kemp’s research paints a grim picture of how rising wealth disparity leads us down the path to societal collapse. On the one hand, that’s Frederick Law Olmstead and other historic titans of landscape architecture fame! Famous examples include the Classical Lowland Maya, the Han dynasty of China, and the Western Roman Empire. All of these societies experienced wide gulfs between the rich oligarchs and the poor rabble just prior to their respective collapses.
In light of these findings, Kemp proposes a controversial measure: capping individual wealth at $10 million. He believes that such a radical approach could help mitigate the disparities that often lead to societal unrest and eventual collapse. He highlights this as crucial in efforts to build true democratic societies capable of sharing power more fairly across their populations.
Yet for all his careful deliberation, even Kemp is doubtful that the human species can prevent its rapidly approaching collapse. He goes on to label some of today’s leaders—Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping—as antagonists. With a penchant for authoritarianism and a proclivity for self-interest, he characterizes them as embodiments of the “dark triad.”
Kemp outlines two potential futures for society: self-destruction or a fundamental transformation. He suggests that without significant changes to how power is distributed, humanity risks repeating the same mistakes of past civilizations.
“Collapse isn’t just caused by structures, but also people. If you want to save the world then the first step is to stop destroying it. In other words: don’t be a dick.” – Luke Kemp
Kemp contends that the systems we have today are designed more to serve the interests of profit and power rather than the interests of society at large. He critiques large corporations and their influence on global catastrophic risks, stating that they perpetuate cycles of inequality and conflict.
“These are the large, psychopathic corporations and groups which produce global catastrophic risk.” – Luke Kemp
To that truth, he implores you to open your eyes. It isn’t human nature driving these trends—it’s well-organized minorities hijacking the process to serve their narrow interests.
In his book, Kemp rebukes the idea that democracy is a vaguely leftist ideal. To him, democracy is a fundamental human impulse. After all, throughout history this promise has more often been trampled underfoot by far greater structures of domination.
“There is nothing inherently left wing about democracy.” – Luke Kemp
As he contemplates Sumerian and other ancient societies, he’s struck by the bloody origins from which so many empires have been founded.
“When you look at the near east, China, Mesoamerica or the Andes, where the first kingdoms and empires arose, you don’t see civilised conduct; you see war, patriarchy and human sacrifice.” – Luke Kemp
Kemp reminds us that we must change our mindset about what we are capable of as a democratic governing body.
“Today, people find it easier to imagine that we can build intelligence on silicon than we can do democracy at scale… Of course we can do democracy at scale.” – Luke Kemp
In it, he describes humanity’s natural social and altruistic impulses as essential ingredients for creating change that lasts.