Public choice theory studies such questions, and if this question really interests you, I suggest digging around. As you might expect, there are researchers who have devoted years of their lives to such questions. The Calculus of Consent is a very good starting point (and something to come back to later; it’s very deep). The Tieboutmodel might interest you.
“How governments work” and “how to make governments work well” are questions people have been very interested in for a long time, and any serious attempt at an answer would have to begin by familiarizing oneself with the literature.
I am not persuaded by your history of the 20th century, by the way. Why should war have ever been necessary? Trade exists. Surely your own cited example of the Dutch success in the 17th century is one such example.
In nature, when habitat’s population exceeds the carrying capacity, animals can either starve or try to invade the neighboring habitats. Before industrial revolution the human choices were no different.
Public choice theory studies such questions, and if this question really interests you, I suggest digging around. As you might expect, there are researchers who have devoted years of their lives to such questions. The Calculus of Consent is a very good starting point (and something to come back to later; it’s very deep). The Tiebout model might interest you.
“How governments work” and “how to make governments work well” are questions people have been very interested in for a long time, and any serious attempt at an answer would have to begin by familiarizing oneself with the literature.
I am not persuaded by your history of the 20th century, by the way. Why should war have ever been necessary? Trade exists. Surely your own cited example of the Dutch success in the 17th century is one such example.
In nature, when habitat’s population exceeds the carrying capacity, animals can either starve or try to invade the neighboring habitats. Before industrial revolution the human choices were no different.