We once assumed that massive health crises were relics of a bygone era, beliefs shaken to the core when we found ourselves vulnerable to the sweeping impact of a modern pandemic. It was a stark reminder that no matter how advanced or economically prosperous a society becomes, we’re not immune to the historical grip of disease and the chaos it can bring. Since 2001, experts have often proclaimed the return of history, but nothing made that notion clearer than the Covid-19 pandemic.
As this emergency unfolded, we were already navigating a landscape filled with geopolitical tensions. What followed was a multifaceted crisis: compounded by the pandemic, we faced supply chain disruptions, inflation spikes, a looming debt crisis, and an ongoing climate emergency. Meanwhile, conflicts erupted anew in Europe and the Middle East, and global power struggles with China intensified.
Against this backdrop, within our borders, the future glimmered with the rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Innovators pushed forward, seeking to redefine progress rather than fall into a post-pandemic malaise or grinding economic slowdown. It almost seemed like we were stepping into a new version of the Roaring Twenties. Back in 2020, people thought we were headed for an era of wild parties and social escapades as a release from lockdowns. Fast forward to 2025, and the comparison to the 1920s carries more weight. A century ago, the US withdrew from international roles after Woodrow Wilson, ushering in a conservative political wave after the Progressive era, a prelude to the biggest economic collapse in its history. At that time, America plunged into a decade defined by laissez-faire policies, extravagant spending, and a blurred line between legality and lawlessness, prosperity and excess.
Yet, despite these parallels, today’s world feels far from hopeful or jubilant. Instead, there’s a harsh, relentless undertone, fueled by pent-up frustration. We still grapple with the immense losses endured, struggling to fully process them.
