I am currently reading a book on Edwardian England called “The Age of Decadence.” Since Ross Douthat has a book out which makes the same judgment about contemporary America, it is fair and appropriate to ask whether Trumpian America resembles the UK in 1914.
It does, in the following ways: a rapidly rising and aggressive foreign power; a left determined to bring about significant social and economic change; an openly insurrectionist right; and a former head of state with dubious morals.
Edwardian England was a time of tremendous innovation; we got 280 characters. In addition, there was no British counterpart to “America First” in foreign policy, so it may be that the differences outweigh the similarities. In any event, England still had plenty of bite in 1915, so if you’re Xi or Putin, the analogy shouldn’t give you much comfort.