History doesn’t repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes. The Roman Republic and the United States were both founded on the idea that no single ruler should dominate government. Instead, power would be shared, distributed across institutions that checked and balanced each other. But institutions are only as strong as the political culture that sustains them. And in both Rome and America, we see a pattern: as economic inequality widens, as elites consolidate power, as political norms erode, the system drifts away from its founding principles and toward something more authoritarian, more oligarchic, more brittle.
The Promise and Fragility of Republican Ideals
The Roman Republic, born in 509 BCE after overthrowing a monarchy, built a system designed to prevent autocracy. Power was divided among the Senate, popular assemblies, and elected magistrates. The idea was that no single person or class should dominate governance.
The United States, founded in 1776, built a similar structure. The framers, inspired in part by Rome, designed a government where the executive, legislative, and judicial branches would check each other. The goal was clear: prevent tyranny. But here’s the thing about checks and balances—they only work if all sides agree to be bound by them.
When Wealth Translates to Power
At the heart of both Rome’s and America’s struggles is a simple problem: the more wealth concentrates, the more power follows it.
Rome’s expansion brought an economic boom—but most of the spoils went to the elite. Small farmers, once the backbone of the republic, were pushed out by vast estates run on slave labor. The Senate, dominated by the wealthiest families, became a club of oligarchs, insulating itself from popular demands. The republic had democratic elements, but increasingly, they were window dressing.
Sound familiar? In the U.S., the industrial revolution, the rise of corporate monopolies, and the explosion of wealth inequality in the 20th and 21st centuries have created a similar dynamic. The more money flows into politics—especially after Citizens United v. FEC—the harder it is for ordinary citizens to have their voices heard. The result? A government that often seems more responsive to billionaire donors and corporate lobbyists than to its own people.
Institutions Under Strain
As wealth concentrates, institutions designed to distribute power equitably start to crack. In Rome, the popular assemblies lost influence. The Senate increasingly ignored the will of the people, and ambitious generals like Marius and Sulla realized that political power didn’t just come from votes—it came from commanding armies.
In the U.S., institutions are also straining under the weight of dysfunction. Congress, gridlocked by polarization and special interests, struggles to legislate. Presidents, frustrated by inaction, increasingly rely on executive orders to govern unilaterally. Trust in democracy is eroding, and when people lose faith in democratic systems, they become more open to strongman leaders who promise to cut through the chaos.
The Authoritarian Creep
Rome didn’t become an empire overnight. It happened through a slow erosion of norms. Julius Caesar didn’t invent strongman politics—he just took advantage of a system that was already breaking. When the Senate failed to govern effectively, he presented himself as the only leader who could bring order. The people, exhausted by instability, accepted it. A few decades later, Augustus formalized autocracy, and the republic was gone.
The United States is not Rome. But the trends are unsettling. Political leaders are increasingly testing constitutional limits. The executive branch has amassed more power over time. Public trust in institutions is in freefall. Populist leaders, left and right, have begun to argue that democracy itself is the problem. If these trends continue, what comes next?
What Can Be Done?
Rome never found an off-ramp. The U.S. still can. The key is to reinforce the institutions that distribute power equitably, to break the link between money and political influence, and to restore faith in democratic processes. History suggests that republics don’t collapse in a single moment—they erode, piece by piece, until one day, the system that once seemed invincible is simply gone. The question is whether we recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.
Comments