Who Will Collapse. Jared Diamond’s theory implemented: how Bangladesh and the Netherlands choose to fail or survive, from 1989 to 2020.

Abstract

In his book Collapse, Jared Diamond explained how societies from the past were facing environmental problems. A lack of strong society’s response caused their eventual collapse. He warned modern societies: these problems are similar to what we are experiencing today, and he called for urgent action. The most vulnerable would be Third World countries, such as Bangladesh, while a country like the Netherlands appears to be the most “environmentally aware”, Diamond argued. In his theory, the society’s response to environmental problems is the most significant factor to determine an upcoming collapse. This thesis implemented that theory. It concludes how Bangladesh is not as likely to collapse and how the Netherlands is not as “environmentally aware” as Diamond assumes. Bangladesh acknowledges its vulnerability, but this causes the country to take effective measures immediately to protect citizens and adapt to climate change. With slow and occasionally ineffective adaptation and mitigation measures to reduce climate change, the Netherlands demonstrates how the country is not nearly as “environmentally aware” as it appears to be. The palpability of climate change in Bangladesh causes the country to take more drastic action than the Netherland currently takes. Taking into account Diamond’s own “most significant” factor, this research concludes that Bangladesh has gone in the right direction, leaving the Netherlands behind.