Behind the Times Decline and Fall Vladimir Putin has decried the ‘decadent West’ as destined to fail as a result of its degeneracy. Fears of decadence are not new. William Rees | Published in History Today Volume 73 Issue 1 January 2023 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Related Articles The Weimar Republic: A Failed State? Who’s Afraid of the Jazz Monsters? Popular articles Jane Austen: A Partial and Prejudiced Historian ‘Rot: A History of the Irish Famine’ by Padraic X. Scanlan review