The way that I understand the modern world is a a repeat of the conflict between Athens, Sparta, and Rome. To me the USA always looked like Athens--democracy, individual rights. The USSR always seemed to be some kind of modern version of Sparta--community is everything and warlike. And the analogy can be stretched far. Just like Athens used to push it's weight around to build up an Athenian empire, so does the USA. That was until Sparta knocked it down [with the help of most of Greece, not alone.]. But it did not take long until Sparta itself fell, and both became part of the Roman Empire. [That was not immediate. Sparta was first conquered by Macedon which later was conquered by Rome.] What was unique about Rome? The main characteristic of Rome is the balance between the patricians and the plebeians, SPQR. The senate and the people of Rome.
[Even though the landowning class of the patricians were the only people that could be part of the senate, still they needed to be voted in by vote of the people. No one could hold any public office without being voted in by majority of the people.]
