'demoralization' is a good word to describe the mental state of imperial citizen
social being determines social consciousness, but social consciousness often lags behind social being.
when the empire was falling, its citizens still indulged in the eternal victories of the past. by the time they realized the empire's glory was irretrievable, it was usually already fallen.
this lagging may cause some consequences.
for instance, overconfident imperial citizens may try to contain rivals and prevent the empire's fall through various ways, tariffs, sanctions, or wars, the worst case
imperial citizens think a lot when they see this:
> In addition, we had and have military bases in Japan. This is not the same situation.
imperial policymakers may be rational, or may not be
social being determines social consciousness, but social consciousness often lags behind social being.
when the empire was falling, its citizens still indulged in the eternal victories of the past. by the time they realized the empire's glory was irretrievable, it was usually already fallen.
this lagging may cause some consequences.
for instance, overconfident imperial citizens may try to contain rivals and prevent the empire's fall through various ways, tariffs, sanctions, or wars, the worst case
imperial citizens think a lot when they see this:
> In addition, we had and have military bases in Japan. This is not the same situation.
imperial policymakers may be rational, or may not be