The Collapse of Western Civilization

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction-Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3-Epilogue

Appendices

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Index of Terms

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Literary Devices

Setting

The primary setting of The Collapse of Western Civilization is the fictional neo-communist country of the Second People’s Republic of China in the year 2300; however, the majority of the book focuses on modern Western civilization. To merge the primary setting and sub-setting, the historian announces that they use the old names of the countries:

Throughout this essay, I will use the nation-state terms for the era; for the reader not familiar with the political geography of Earth prior to the Great Collapse, the remains of the United Kingdom can be found in the present-day Cambria; Germany in the Nordo-Scandinavian Union; and the United States and Canada in the United States of North America (2).

Along with informing the fictional audience of the old country names, the historian also explains cultural elements of the Western world. The historian explains that the Western world used consumption to measure national success—“most countries still used the archaic concept of a gross domestic product, a measure of consumption, rather than the Bhutanian concept of gross domestic happiness to evaluate well-being in a state” (8). Although these remarks are written as explanations to the fictional audience, they serve to indirectly develop the primary setting.

The relation of the different country names is symbolic of the social disruption caused by climate change. No Western nations survived the consequences of climate change; they were forced to reorganize politically and geographically, and many individuals were forced to migrate to safer places. While the historian does not go into much detail about the SPRC and the world in 2300, the reader understands that the nation is neo-communist and anti-capitalist. These details are intended as satirical remarks against real-world anti-communist sentiments and pro-capitalism. The authors also implicitly suggest that the common good should be prioritized over individual liberty, and that national success should be based on the well-being of the constituents.

Allusion

Allusions, or references to external or internal elements of a text, are abundantly used throughout The Collapse of Western Civilization. The authors incorporate allusions to companies, policies, and numerous influential individuals. A reference to ExxonMobil appears in Chapter 2: “[I]n 2012 the Russian government signed an agreement with American oil giant ExxonMobil, allowing the latter to explore for oil in the Russian Arctic in exchange for Russian access to American shale oil drilling technology” (22). At that time, tensions between the US and Russia, stemming from the Cold War, were still high. The allusion to this agreement is significant because it demonstrates that countries and companies prioritized fossil fuels over political factors.

The authors include references to real-world governmental policies, such as House Bill 819, enacted in North Carolina, and the Government Spending Accountability Act, both established in 2012. House Bill 819, also called the “Sea Level Rise Denial Bill” (11), prevented governmental agencies from using scientific data related to rising sea levels, while the latter Act prevented government scientists from sharing their research and from attending scientific conferences. These allusions are intended to criticize real-world governmental climate change denial.

Allusions to notable individuals are among the most common references found in the text. The authors reference activists, including Clive Hamilton and Paul Gilding; scientists like Dennis and Donella Meadows; and artists like the sculptor Dario Robleto. Many of the allusions are intended to pay homage to the individuals’ attempts to inform people about climate change and to inspire climate action. One of the more significant allusions is the reference to Paul Crutzen in the discussion of the Crutzen Project, or the plan to release aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect incoming sunlight and lower the temperature. This allusion pays homage to Crutzen by addressing his attempts to mitigate climate change; however, it also criticizes science and the reliance on damage control rather than prevention.

The authors also reference Carl Sagan and the Sagan Effect, which is defined in the text as “a strong positive feedback loop between warming and CH₄ release” (28). The Sagan Effect is also called “Venusian death,” as it was first used to describe why Venus is intensely hot, and it was later used to describe the intensifying greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmosphere. The reference alludes to the idea that a potential consequence of unchecked climate change might be the total destruction of life on Earth.

Satire

Satire is one of the most prevalent literary devices in The Collapse of Western Civilization. The text fits into the genre of satire, and it also includes individual satirical statements. At times these satirical remarks incorporate sarcasm, as in the statement, “Culturally, celebrating the planet was encouraged on an annual Earth Day (as if every day were not Earth Day!)” (4). The sarcastic remark, along with the accompanying punctuation elements—parentheses and an exclamation mark—create a derisive tone intended to impart that the environment should be prioritized every day. By making the concept of Earth Day appear absurd, the authors invite their readers to consider the environment more often.

Other satirical remarks are more direct: “In hindsight, the self-justificatory aspects of the U.S. position are obvious, but they were not apparent to many at the time” (5). This statement refers to the nation’s declarations that eliminating fossil fuel use was too inconvenient and that the science was too uncertain. Remarks such as this are intended to support climate change evidence, and to inspire readers to accept climate change and take action to mitigate it.