“First-Class Passengers On a Sinking Ship”: In-Depth Read on Elites and Decline of Powers

Ok, this was a pretty challenging read.

I originally saved today’s book in my “want to read” list because of my interest in what is going on in Russia (I am from Moscow originally but left Russia 10 years ago).

Many scholars say that the regimes like Putin’s are most likely to end when the elites are no longer interested in maintaining the status quo. So, I found a book on elites dynamics:

Fair to say, this read was not exactly what I was expecting. It was also quite dry and academical.

Still, I do not regret reading it at all.

“First-class passengers on a sinking ship” offers a historical review of the hegemons of the past (Netherlands or the United Kingdom), as well as the hegemony in decline of today (the United States). This book highlights what role its elites played in the countries’ becoming and overtime losing the status of global powers.

Spoiler alert: Keeping the status quo which is favorable for elites can and most likely will be detrimental for the country in the long run. The country will fail to adapt to new challenges and world dynamics while the elites will be blocking the necessary legislative and societal changes.

In short, this book did not give me the exact answer as to when the Russian elites will turn their back on Putin (If only it was so simple to find a book with a clear answer to that…)

Still, it did highlight to me once again how important it is to check who benefits the status quo, and why things are kept the way they are.

You might know that I don’t post book reviews without beer recommendations. Books and beers, this is what I do.

Today’s beer is a classic kriek lambic beer from the Belgian brewery Lindemans. It is a lambic with fermented sour cherries, a very Belgian creation.

I can’t say that lambics are my absolute favorite beer type, but if I am in the mood (or if I am in Belgium 😜), I will definitely order a lambic.