Most of the natural world is swinging pendula. That is because life can only exist where thermodynamic equilibrium does not prevail so things are out of balance. When things are out of balance they oscillate like a pendulum, so things start out of balance, head towards equilibrium, overhoot and go off some other way. That is exactly why you get waves of hot weather and cold weather in the spring.
It is true that the first law of thermodynamics manifests in many aspects of nature and life.
However, the second law of thermodynamics gives a better understanding of the rise and fall of civilization. It takes far more time and energy to build than to destroy - order tends to give way to disorder.
What we are seeing isn’t a swinging pendulum - it is decay.
Of course, new growth can eventually emerge from the ashes.