Identity and cohesion are existential issues. Sir John Bagot Glubb, who was a British military commander in both world wars, authored a book on the fate of nations and empires. He found that they lasted about 250 years, from their rise to greatness to their demise.
This figure had not varied much over a historical timeline of 3,000 years. The rise of nations was due to economic factors while their demise was due to a host of social factors.
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