Diagrams & Structural Models
Post-Hegemony Primer — Systems Diagrams
This module contains the full suite of diagrams used throughout the Post-Hegemony Primer. Each diagram is presented as an inline SVG that you may copy directly into your MkDocs docs/ folder or embed within pages as partials.
The diagrams are conceptual tools: visualizations of system dynamics, failure modes, strategic drift, and multipolar emergence. None are U.S.-exclusive; all models are globally applicable.
1. Global Hegemonic Cycle Model
Adapted from world-systems theory, modified for 21st-century digital multipolarity.
Concept
Visualizes the classical hegemonic arc — rise, peak, overextension, delegitimization, and fragmentation — applied to any hegemonic system (imperial, economic, ideological, or corporate-platform).
SVG
<svg width="720" height="360" viewBox="0 0 720 360" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<style>
.label { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; }
.title { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; }
</style>
<!-- Title -->
<text x="360" y="30" text-anchor="middle" class="title">
Global Hegemonic Cycle Model
</text>
<!-- Curve -->
<path d="M60 280
C180 80, 360 60, 540 120
C630 150, 660 240, 700 280"
fill="none" stroke="black" stroke-width="3"/>
<!-- Nodes -->
<circle cx="120" cy="240" r="6" fill="black"/>
<circle cx="260" cy="140" r="6" fill="black"/>
<circle cx="390" cy="100" r="6" fill="black"/>
<circle cx="520" cy="150" r="6" fill="black"/>
<circle cx="650" cy="260" r="6" fill="black"/>
<!-- Labels -->
<text x="120" y="255" class="label">1. Formation</text>
<text x="260" y="125" class="label">2. Ascendance</text>
<text x="390" y="85" class="label">3. Peak</text>
<text x="520" y="135" class="label">4. Overextension</text>
<text x="650" y="245" class="label">5. Decline/Fragmentation</text>
</svg>
2. Pillars of Hegemonic Stability
Economic • Military • Cultural • Institutional • Technological
Concept
Shows that hegemonic endurance depends on multiple interlocking pillars, none of which can fail without weakening the others.
SVG
<svg width="720" height="320" viewBox="0 0 720 320" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<style>
.label { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-anchor: middle; }
.title { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; }
</style>
<!-- Title -->
<text x="360" y="30" class="title" text-anchor="middle">
Pillars of Hegemonic Stability
</text>
<!-- Pillars -->
<rect x="80" y="80" width="100" height="180" fill="none" stroke="black"/>
<rect x="190" y="80" width="100" height="180" fill="none" stroke="black"/>
<rect x="300" y="80" width="100" height="180" fill="none" stroke="black"/>
<rect x="410" y="80" width="100" height="180" fill="none" stroke="black"/>
<rect x="520" y="80" width="100" height="180" fill="none" stroke="black"/>
<!-- Labels -->
<text x="130" y="270" class="label">Economic</text>
<text x="240" y="270" class="label">Military</text>
<text x="350" y="270" class="label">Cultural</text>
<text x="460" y="270" class="label">Institutional</text>
<text x="570" y="270" class="label">Technological</text>
</svg>
3. Four-Zone Post-Hegemonic Landscape
Multipolarity replaces unipolarity with distributed power centers.
Concept
A map of the four primary competitive zones emerging in the post-hegemonic world:
- Regional Power Blocs
- Nonstate Strategic Actors
- Platform-Empires
- Civilizational Cores
SVG
<svg width="720" height="360" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<style>
.group { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; }
.box { fill: none; stroke: black; stroke-width: 2; }
</style>
<!-- Boxes -->
<rect x="60" y="60" width="250" height="110" class="box"/>
<rect x="410" y="60" width="250" height="110" class="box"/>
<rect x="60" y="200" width="250" height="110" class="box"/>
<rect x="410" y="200" width="250" height="110" class="box"/>
<!-- Labels -->
<text x="185" y="120" text-anchor="middle" class="group">Regional Power Blocs</text>
<text x="535" y="120" text-anchor="middle" class="group">Platform Empires</text>
<text x="185" y="260" text-anchor="middle" class="group">Nonstate Strategic Actors</text>
<text x="535" y="260" text-anchor="middle" class="group">Civilizational Cores</text>
</svg>
4. Drift-to-Disorder Feedback Loop
Hegemonies crumble via internal contradictions more often than external assault.
Concept
A feedback loop showing how decay becomes self-accelerating:
Instability → Legitimacy Decline → Overreaction → Economic Overreach → Instability
SVG
<svg width="720" height="360" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<style>
.label { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-anchor: middle; }
.title { font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; }
</style>
<!-- Title -->
<text x="360" y="30" text-anchor="middle" class="title">
Drift-to-Disorder Feedback Loop
</text>
<!-- Circles -->
<circle cx="360" cy="90" r="45" fill="none" stroke="black" stroke-width="2"/>
<circle cx="540" cy="180" r="45" fill="none" stroke="black" stroke-width="2"/>
<circle cx="360" cy="270" r="45" fill="none" stroke="black" stroke-width="2"/>
<circle cx="180" cy="180" r="45" fill="none" stroke="black" stroke-width="2"/>
<!-- Arrows -->
<path d="M405 90 L495 160" stroke="black" fill="none" marker-end="url(#arrow)"/>
<path d="M540 225 L405 255" stroke="black" fill="none" marker-end="url(#arrow)"/>
<path d="M315 270 L225 210" stroke="black" fill="none" marker-end="url(#arrow)"/>
<path d="M180 135 L315 105" stroke="black" fill="none" marker-end="url(#arrow)"/>
<!-- Arrow marker -->
<defs>
<marker id="arrow" markerWidth="10" markerHeight="10" refX="6" refY="3" orient="auto">
<polygon points="0 0, 6 3, 0 6" fill="black"/>
</marker>
</defs>
<!-- Labels -->
<text x="360" y="95" class="label">Instability</text>
<text x="540" y="185" class="label">Legitimacy Loss</text>
<text x="360" y="275" class="label">Economic Overreach</text>
<text x="180" y="185" class="label">Overreaction</text>
</svg>
5. Global Signals Dashboard Architecture
An analytic system for monitoring post-hegemonic transitions.
Concept
This shows a modular OSINT-analytics architecture, suitable for Ardens, HAP, or any global monitoring system.
SVG
```svg