Luke Kemp

Senior Research Associate, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, UK

Luke Kemp is a senior research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at the University of Cambridge and a visiting fellow with the Cascade Institute. He is the author of Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse (2025). He has advised and led foresight studies for multiple international organisations, including the WHO and Convention on Biological Diversity. His work has been covered by media outlets such as the BBC, The New York Times, and The New Yorker.

Website

X (Formerly Twitter)

Written by Luke Kemp

Painting of ancient Roman ruins with people, cattle and trees under a blue sky with clouds.

essay

Nations and empires

The rewards of ruin

Societal downfalls loom large in history and popular culture but, for the 99 per cent, collapse often had its upsides

Luke Kemp

An ancient stone pyramid in a jungle setting under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by lush green trees.

idea

Global history

Civilisational collapse has a bright past – but a dark future

Luke Kemp