Political Order and InequalityThe fundamental question of political theory, one that precedes all other questions about the nature of political life, is why there is a state at all. Is human cooperation feasible without a political authority enforcing it? Or do we need a state to live together? This problem then opens up two further questions. If a state is necessary to establish order, how does it come into place? And, when it does, what are the consequences for the political status and economic welfare of its citizens? Combining ethnographical material, historical cases, and statistical analysis, this book describes the foundations of stateless societies, why and how states emerge, and the basis of political obligation. As a result of this inquiry, it explains the economic and political roots of inequality, describes the causes of the stagnation of the preindustrial world, and explores what led to the West's prosperity of the past two centuries. |
Contents
Tabula Rasa | 22 |
2 | 60 |
Technological Progress | 92 |
Warfare | 128 |
Inequality | 171 |
6 | 202 |
8 | 210 |
22 | 233 |
Conclusions | 243 |
28 | 248 |
30 | 264 |
| 269 | |
| 271 | |
35 | 277 |
| 295 | |
| 307 | |
Other editions - View all
Political Order and Inequality: Their Foundations and their Consequences for ... Carles Boix No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
Africa agrarian agricultural agricultural revolution American anarchy areas army bandits biogeographical bronze capital centimeters Chapter chariots China cities climate coefficient of variation contrast cooperation correlated data set decile declined democracy distribution economic effect elites emergence empirical employed endogenous equality estimated Ethnographic Atlas European exploit feudal Figure firearms fishing foraging communities formation genetic geographical Gini index growth heavy cavalry hoplite horse human communities human height Hunter-Gatherer ibid impact incentives income individuals Industrial Revolution inequality introduction labor land learning-by-doing looters looting medieval Mesoamerica Middle East military technologies millennium modern monarchical monarchical regimes Native American payoff percent political institutions population density producers ratio regions relatively republic republican result social societies square kilometer stateless communities stirrup strategy structure technological change technological innovation technological shock territorial theory tion tsetse fly type of economy violence wages warfare wealth weapons