You are quite correct, but history is punctuated by periods of stability and negotiated rule-following.
I have a sinking feeling we're living right at the tail end of one...
Discussion
I agree, at least for the post-1945 Collective West it was, but we planted the seeds of our fate long ago and we are now ripping it consequences.
Monetary debasement and fiscal irresponsibility
External imperialism and violent overstretching
Moral/spiritual/cultural decadence
Uncontrolled immigration
Self-Complacency and cognitive decline
I hope to be wrong but i think other civilizations wont be so merciful for our crimes/weaknesses.
Even if as individuals many of us are definitely innocent, collectively we carry responsability, expecially in the eyes of more collectively-centered civilizations.
100%
At least as individuals we can try to live a principled and self-reliant life, speak truth to power, be kind with our dears, dont be assholes with strangers and look for inner peace.
No one can turn the world upside-down or change the history flow, but we can try to be the best of ourselves and choose to swim like a salmon.