[The Editors' Verdict]Rome Did Not Collapse Overnight

How could the small city-state of Rome build an unprecedented empire? There can be various hypotheses. However, the most important factor in any hypothesis is patriotism. When war broke out, a citizen army was formed, and those called to serve prepared their own equipment and provisions to participate. Nevertheless, joining the war for Rome was regarded as the highest honor. Citizens who were not called up considered it a great dishonor and shame.

During the long republican period, great consciences played leading roles. Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus (519?430 BC) was a representative figure among them. He was both a farmer and a soldier. On one occasion, when Rome faced a serious crisis due to an invasion by a neighboring state, and another time due to an internal rebellion, the Senate appointed him dictator. The dictator was a position that monopolized all the power of the state, similar to a king. Of course, this appointment was temporary to overcome the crisis.

As soon as the crisis was resolved, he relinquished the position of dictator without delay and returned to being a farmer. Incidentally, more than 2,200 years later, George Washington (1732?1799), the first president of the United States, followed Cincinnatus’s precedent. After winning the War of Independence, he was urged to become king and establish a monarchy but refused. In 1797, after completing two terms as president, he also returned to being a farmer in Virginia.

This patriotism was the most important foundation for the small city-state of Rome to expand its power to the Italian Peninsula and the Mediterranean coast.

However, as Rome’s territory expanded, wars became incessant. There were cases where soldiers had to stay on the battlefield for years after going to war, leading to the devastation of their home farmlands. Gradually, the patriotism of Roman citizens began to wane. It was around this time that Roman citizenship was extended to the Italian Peninsula. This expansion of citizenship was to facilitate recruitment of soldiers amid growing civil wars among military factions.

It is evident that Roman citizens’ patriotism was not the same as before due to distant wars and diluted citizenship. As the republic changed to an empire and the empire split into East and West, Rome’s patriotism declined even further. The citizen army turned into mercenaries. And to prevent invasions by powerful foreign forces, bribes in gold and silver were offered. To this end, enormous taxes were levied. The patriotism of ancient times was nowhere to be found, and people had no choice but to fend for themselves. Ultimately, the empire became nothing more than a castle in the air.

The necessary condition to sustain and prosper a country is patriotism. While patriotism does not guarantee a country’s prosperity, no country can prosper and endure for long without it. The first step of patriotism is to abide by the country’s laws and rules. There is no particular reason to martyr oneself. Ignoring laws and rules, subordinating the country and power to selfish and factional interests, the country begins to decline gradually. Rome did not collapse overnight.

The deviations of this country’s leaders have reached a dangerous level. It is the worst when the Minister of Justice, who should especially uphold laws and rules, fails to abide by them.

What kind of national perspective does President Moon Jae-in have to appoint and maintain such people as Minister of Justice? This country does not belong to the president, the Minister of Justice, or the Democratic Party. Exercising temporarily entrusted power in this way greatly contradicts patriotism. I want to advise them to think of the country, not factions or ideology. Politics carried out without deep consideration for the country is worrisome. The future of this country is concerning.

Jo Jang-ok, Professor of Economics, Sogang University