I think this is a narrow view based on very recent history. What about the rise of Communism in the 20th century? Or Nazi Germany for that matter? Or slavery?

I think this is a narrow view based on very recent history. What about the rise of Communism in the 20th century? Or Nazi Germany for that matter? Or slavery? I guess you could argue all of these were transitory (albeit devastating) but isn't everything? Probably one of the more modern notions is that the current state of world affairs is somehow permanent. This complacency is both naiv and dangerous.