Who are the Goths?

I like to frame my world view in terms of history. It's convenient because history has a tendency to repeat itself due to the archetypical nature of historic figures and phenomena. We readily relate to the notion of kings and kingdoms, heroes and villains. They are universally understood, and can therefore be used to explain the mechanisms driving current events. We can even predict the sort of events that are likely to take place in the future based on an honest assessment of where we are today, relative to similar periods of history.

One historic phenomenon that I find particularly interesting is the sudden appearance of the Goths at the time when Rome went into terminal decline. My thesis is that they appeared out of necessity, and that they were a cultural, rather than ethnic phenomenon. As such, they still exist, because culture remains in existence even when no longer in vogue. The culture becomes a subculture that exists among men who do things in certain ways.

Goths are pragmatic men who adhere to a simple set of rules. Their code of honor can be summarized as:

• Don't break stuff
• Don't steal
• Honor your word

This view of justice is particularly strong in Scandinavia where winters are long and supply chains are stretched. Being able to trust people becomes vital in such an environment. If too much energy is wasted through damage, theft or fraud, people die.

When Rome became hopelessly corrupt, there was a sudden need for people who could be trusted, and hence we had the above honor code spreading through Europe. Everyone was suddenly a Goth, because Goths could be relied upon for protection of trade and land. Even the emperor of Rome would employ the Goths, because corruption internal to the Roman administration was so widespread that home grown soldiers could not be trusted.

Seen in this perspective, Goths are any band of men who see it as their mission to uphold the above honor code. Private security companies are typical examples of this. However, Goths can appear in unexpected places, because they appear out of necessity wherever there is corruption.

Ever since the state took control of national health services, there's been a growing problem of corruption which has turned dramatically worse over the past twenty months. The entire system is broken. Money is siphoned off, and no-one can be trusted. The conditions are ripe for the Goths to put order back into the system, and that's precisely what we're seeing. Things are happening behind the scenes, and the main thrust of it appears to be centered in Sweden, the historic origin of Goth culture.

Going forward, we're likely to see more of the Goths. Their austere refusal to put up with corruption will grant them increasing powers, and they will in the end take over control of everything. However, this will also be the end of the Goths. The same will happen to them now as happened to them in the past. Once in charge of the state apparatus, the Goths fell victim to the lure of power. Emphasis was increasingly put on loyalty, and corruption was increasingly tolerated. But for now, the Goths are a force for good. Rome will fall, and there will be a new order of things.

Rome

By Canaletto - Web Gallery of Art:   Image  Info about artwork, Public Domain, Link