All nations eventually end up in the dust, and all for the same reason. Corrupt leadership which slowly boils the general population like the frog in the pot. By the time they figure it out, they're cooked.
Actually, "run of the mill" food crises bring down most nations, and weather and arable land are the prime movers of most (not all) food crises.
The 2 of the 3 worst went down in the blood and flames of war, having been responsible for millions of deaths. Served the bastards right in my view. Thanks to Britain.