The Decline of the West

The Decline of the West (German: Der Untergang des Abendlandes) is a two-volume work by Oswald Spengler, the first volume of which was published in the summer of 1918. Spengler revised this volume in 1922 and published the second volume, subtitled Perspectives of World History, in 1923.

Race and Culture

Spengler attempts to tie race and Culture together, echoing ideas similar to those of Friedrich Ratzel and Rudolf Kjellén. These ideas, which were prevalent throughout German culture at the time, were likely the most significant elements for the National Socialists who would later claim Spengler as an intellectual forebear (despite Spengler's disdain for the Nazis—see: Spengler's The Hour of Decision).

Related Topics:
Friedrich Ratzel - Rudolf Kjellén - The Hour of Decision

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Spengler also discusses the national unity of a Culture, a concept to be differentiated from a nation's population. Historical events forge a unified national people—thus he states, ?the name ?Roman? in Hannibal?s day means a people, in Trajan?s time nothing more than a population.? This idea is analogous to his Culture/Civilization distinction.

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