The Foundation of American Stagnation

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, scholars and pundits have highlighted the emergence of an American gerontocracy, as the age of both elected officials and voters continues to rise at an unparalleled pace. Gerontocracy can negatively affect the quality of a nation’s democracy, as it focuses social spending and investment towards senior issues, locks younger voters out of the political process, and threatens the legitimacy of the government. I compare the dominance of elderly politicians in the United States to the Genetic Dynasty from Foundation, the epic science fiction television show on Apple TV, based on the novels by Isaac Asimov. Through their rule of the Galactic Empire over hundreds of years, these cloned emperors face crises of stability and legitimacy not unlike those occurring on present day Earth. Foundation offers several insights into America’s stagnating politics and renewed period of 21st century malaise, and additionally provides unique parallels to the discipline of political science through its depiction of “psychohistory.”