Introduction -- The Soviet example. The collapse of the Soviet Union : an overview ; My return to Russia ; My premise -- Superpower similarities. The myth of inclusiveness ; Technological progress ; The cost of technological progress ; Militarism ; World's jailers ; Evil empires ; Bankruptcy ; Collapse of legitimacy -- The collapse gap. Collapses in general ; Housing ; Transportation ; Employment ; Families ; Money ; Consumerism ; Food ; Medicine ; Education ; Ethnicity ; Religion ; Energy ; Inevitable conclusion -- Collapse mitigation. Reasonable expectations ; Political solutions ; Private sector solutions ; Activism and apathy ; Boondoggles to the rescue! ; Investment advice ; Do it yourself -- Adaptation. Loss of "normalcy" ; Smelling the roses ; Comforts and necessities ; Surviving radical cashectomy ; The revised playbook ; Lowering your standards ; Playing the part ; The settled and the nomadic -- Career opportunities. Asset stripping ; Drugs and alcohol ; Providing security ; Serving your country ; Alternative medicine ; Alternative transportation ; Social work in the home -- In conclusion.
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In the waning days of the American Empire the US administration finds itself mired in political crisis; foreign policy has come under sharp criticism; and the economy is in steep decline. These trends mirror the experience of the Soviet Union in the early 1980's. Reinventing Collapse examines the circumstances of the demise of the Soviet superpower and offers clear insights into how we might prepare for coming events. Rather than focusing on doom and gloom, Reinventing Collapse suggests that there is room for optimism if we focus our efforts on personal and cultural transformation. With characteristic dry humor, Orlov identifies three progressive stages of response to the looming crisis: (1) Mitigation - alleviating the impact of the coming upheaval; (2) Adaptation - adjusting to the reality of changed conditions; and (3) Opportunity - flourishing after the collapse. He argues that by examining maladaptive parts of our common cultural baggage we can survive and thrive and discover more meaningful and fulfilling lives, in spite of steadily deteriorating circumstances. This challenging yet inspiring work is a must-read for anyone concerned about energy, geopolitics, international relations and life in a post-Peak Oil world.
Reinventing collapse.
9781550923551
Economic forecasting-- United States.
Prévision économique-- États-Unis.
Economic forecasting.
Economic history.
Ekonomiska prognoser.
Politics and government
Prognoser.
Soviet Union, History, 1985-1991.
United States, Economic conditions, 2001-2009.
United States, Politics and government, 2001-2009.
États-Unis, Conditions économiques, 2001-2009.
États-Unis, Politique et gouvernement, 2001-2009.