By now, you’re familiar with World Order’s gameplay, its educational depth, and its foundation in International Relations, such as what makes a country a great power. But let’s take a closer look at the other side of the coin: Why do great powers fail and fall?

The rise and fall of great powers have shaped the course of history, from the Roman Empire’s decline leading to centuries-long disorder in Europe to the post-Cold War Unipolar Moment followed by the Multipolar Transition-linked global disorder, and is one of the most debated themes among IR experts and historians.

History teaches that the causes behind the decline of once-mighty nations are many and result from the intricate web of economic, military, and political factors that influence the stability of any power, regardless the size. World Order brings these historic lessons to life, offering gamers the unique opportunity to experience and understand the complexities that lead to the rise as well as to the downfall of great powers through an engaging learning-by-playing approach.

Gamers are set to understand that the processes of rise and fall are very similar, since the former is the result of a combination of military might, economic prowess, and strategic vision, whereas the latter results from the worsening of that mix of knowledge, abilities and competencies. More in detail, the decline of great powers can often be traced back to a few critical factors, which are overextension, economic mismanagement, technological stagnation, societal collapse, and strategic miscalculations. Let’s explore them one by one.

Overextension, also known as imperial overstretch, happens when a great power extends its direct or indirect influence more than its human and economic resources allow. The Roman Empire, for example, stretched its resources thin by expanding too rapidly, leaving it vulnerable to external invasions and internal instability. Similarly, the British Empire faced the difficulties of managing vast colonies spread across the globe, ultimately leading to its gradual decline. The United States is today in a similar situation, with military bases in more than hundred countries and dozens of commitments to intervention in case of military aggression by a third party.

Economic strength is the bedrock of any great power, yet history is rife with examples of empires that failed to manage their resources effectively. Spain’s decline in the 17th century, for instance, was precipitated by an overreliance on silver from the New World, leading to inflation and economic stagnation. In the modern era, the Soviet Union’s inability to improve economically played a significant role in its dissolution.

Technological stagnation is the inability to keep pace with technological advancements, and it can leave even the most powerful nations vulnerable. China’s decline during the Qing Dynasty was partly due to its resistance to industrialization, which allowed Western powers to dominate economically and militarily. In contrast, the rapid technological progress in the United States during the 20th century solidified its position as a global superpower. However, it must be noted that declines can occur even in the presence of technological primacy – the Soviet Union, again, provides a valuable example: it led the space and nuclear races, yet it fell because of the absence of an adequate economic system.

Societal collapse is the great powers’ most feared nightmare since it can bring about world-overturning changes overnight. Social and political upheaval led to the fall of Romanovs’ Russia and to the subsequent civil war, condemning the country to exit from the international arena for more than a decade.

Misjudgments in foreign policy and military strategy are among the other reasons behind the decline of great powers. For instance, much of Napoleon’s France falldown can be explained as the consequence of the disastrous Russian campaign. Similarly, Japan’s decision to bomb Pearl Harbour with the goal of preventing the United States from interfering in World War Two had the opposite effect.

World Order has been designed to be a virtual laboratory of power dynamics, one where every player starts from the same bottom and can aspire to greatness, or, conversely, it can lose because of miscalculations. More in detail, World Order allows players to step into the shoes of four modern-day great powers: China, the United States, the European Union, and Russia. Each player must navigate a world fraught with challenges, where the very factors that led to the decline of historical powers are at play. The game provides a realistic simulation of how great powers manage, or mismanage, their resources, special abilities, alliances, and decision making processes.

In World Order, players must balance – and can weaponize – a variety of real-life resources such as food, energy, minerals, weapons, and investments. These resources are the lifeblood of any nation’s power, and their management is critical to success. 

Players will face dilemmas such as whether to invest in military expansion or domestic stability, how to handle economic crises, and when to engage in diplomacy versus direct confrontation. More importantly, players will learn that each decision has consequences, mirroring the real-world political and geopolitical complexities that have defined the fates of nations – and will keep defining them until the end of times.

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