Fifteen years ago, soon after the the Golden War ended, Grace issued her ex cathedra prognosis:

With Apostolos defeated (and 'integration' well in process) and peace firmly in place with the Orion Conglomerate, the Diaspora had finally brought into being the end of history as such. Certainly, there was still difference in how OriCon and the Diaspora operated, but the writing was on the wall: The Diaspora's method of mechanized democracy was the final, universal form of governance that all true civilizations would eventually arrive at. OriCon would be the next to prove it: After all, each and every day those oligarchs put more and more faith in automation, deferred again and again to procedural logic. It was only a matter of time before they elected their own divines, even if they went by other names.

Certainly, Grace explained, there'd be more disputes over territory and resources, and yes, of course there would be new inventions and technological progress. But in the long run, the state of things had settled. The Golden Branch had, against all odds, ushered in the final era: post-history.

This week on COUNTER/Weight: A Splintered Branch, A Ringing Bell Pt. 2

What's worse, saying hello or saying goodbye?

Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker)

Featuring Keith J Carberry (@KeithJCarberry), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Sylvi Clare (@captaintrash), Andrew Lee Swan (@andrewleeswan) and Art Tebbel (@atebbel) Produced by Ali Acampora Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot)

Music by Jack de Quidt

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