The essay by Tobias Stone draws on his background in archaeology and history to explore patterns in human resilience and societal upheaval, particularly in the context of Brexit and Trump’s political influence. He argues that historical analysis reveals cycles of destruction and recovery, noting that events like the Black Death, World Wars, and the Holocaust, while catastrophic in the moment, often catalyzed long-term societal shifts. Stone highlights how the Black Death, by decimating Europe’s population, inadvertently spurred economic