I research how civilizations function. There has never been an immortal society. Our society is unlikely to be an exception. To secure a positive common future that defies these odds, we must understand the hidden forces that shape society.I write and speak on history, institutions, and strategy with a focus on exceptional leaders that create new social and political forms. I have systematized this approach as “Great Founder Theory". In 2017, I founded Bismarck Analysis, a consulting firm that