Failed Republics: The Roman Republic— When Power Corrupts and Democracy Crumbles

This is part 4 of our Failed Republics series— our daily look at democracies and republics that once flourished, only to collapse from within. Each case holds lessons for us today, as the U.S. faces its own tests of resilience against Trump’s authoritarianism.

The Roman Republic, founded in 509 BCE, was one of history’s earliest experiments in representative government. It boasted a complex system of checks and balances aimed at preventing any one person or faction from dominating. But over centuries, that balance eroded… and with it, the Republic itself.

Economic power became increasingly concentrated in the hands of a wealthy patrician elite, while plebeians and lower classes struggled for land and rights. Social tensions bubbled into unrest and periodic reforms— many of which were resisted or co-opted by the elite. The growing inequality is as prevalent in the U.S. today even if Rome’s class conflict isn’t bubbling to the surface yet.

The Senate became a club for powerful families, where influence and wealth dictated outcomes. Much like the U.S. today, bribery, election manipulation and disregard for republican principles became common, weakening public trust. Public corruption was almost as blatant as Trump’s and the erosion of norms seemed inevitable.

Generals like Gaius Marius, Sulla and, finally, Julius Caesar capitalized on military loyalty to bypass senatorial authority. Their personal armies shifted power from institutions to individuals, undermining the Republic’s foundations. Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon with his army in 49 BCE was a turning point. His dictatorship signaled the collapse of republican governance and the start of imperial rule under Augustus, ending the Republic that had lasted nearly 500 years.

The Roman Republic’s demise warns how inequality, corruption and the breakdown of democratic norms open the door for authoritarianism. It underscores the importance of strong institutions and vigilance in protecting democracy.

Tomorrow’s Failed Republics post will explore yet another democracy that faltered— continuing our vital look at the warning signs history offers us.