What are some characteristics of a thriving civilization and what are some of one on the decline?

Question

What are some characteristics of a thriving civilization and what are some of one on the decline?

Answer 1

Some cultures allow civilization and some do not.  This is not a matter of thriving civilization and declining civilization but of thriving culture and declining culture.

A thriving culture will usually have all or most of the following:

A population that is increasing or at least stable.

Institutions which enhance the lives of the citizens.

An adequate production and distribution of goods and necessary services.

Equitable taxes and justice.

A society which acts toward common goals.

Common language and means of communication.

Order.

A declining culture will usually have all or most of the following:

A population that is decreasing slowly or rapidly.

Institutions which do not enhance the lives of the citizens, but exist for their own sake.

Disruption of the production and distribution of goods and necessary services including inadequate quality.

Unfair taxes and justice.

A society divided into a wide variety of differing goals.

Fracturing linguistics and and subcultures unable to communicate.

Chaos.

Answer 2

If a civilization is thriving the population for the most part would be sharing a vision of the good life with the government. On the decline the population would probably be leery and not trust the government.