5. Collapse Page

In technical fields, "Topic 5" sometimes refers to Model Collapse , where AI models trained on synthetic data eventually degrade and "collapse." A key recent paper is A Closer Look at Model Collapse (2025).

Commercial (loss of faith that "the market" will provide) 5. Collapse

Jem Bendell’s Deep Adaptation paper (2018/2024) is highly influential in activist circles, arguing that societal collapse is now inevitable and we must shift from "mitigation" to "preparedness". In technical fields, "Topic 5" sometimes refers to

Societal collapse: A literature review Author: Danilo Brozović (University of Skövde) Publication: Futures (2022) Why it is the "Good Paper" to read: Specifically links historical collapse (like the Maya or

It synthesizes decades of research into a single, cohesive framework.

Specifically links historical collapse (like the Maya or Romans) to modern threats like climate change and economic instability .

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond .Diamond identifies five primary pillars that determine if a society falls: Environmental damage (e.g., deforestation, soil erosion) Climate change (natural or man-made) Hostile neighbors (warfare or trade disruption) Loss of friendly trade partners