Right to Rome
rethinking what society should and could be
In the movie Gladiator, characters Marcus Aerilus and Maximus understood Rome as an idea. Greater than any one senator or land mass, Rome was a set ideals that the empire should strive for.
Beyond Europe
Today, the idea of Rome lives in the hearts and minds of many, but often understood from a Eurocentric world view. However, why should the idea of Rome remain exclusive to Europe when the height of the Roman Empire included North Africa and the Levant?
Inroads
Warped through a Eurocentric understanding, the presence of “western” civilization in Arab countries has often come at the expense of wars and the loss of innocent life. If the standards or ideals of the Roman is meant to be realized, the personal ambition of one race or color must subside to the higher purpose of civilization. Supporting the development and expansion of infrastructure to improve the quality of life of communities must provide a balance of power that does not exploit resources and labor.
Testing the waters
Especially with the rising threat of climate change, the pressure to structure democratic systems for people to share resources is ever more important. Infrastructure designs must provide a future which is shareable for all and mitigates the risk of control and domination of one group over the many. Providing multiple layers and checks and balances to govern the land can offset the risk of authoritarianism.
