Population Size, Climate and Government Control

> >> > So, the American Army is itself an army of occupation of America. > >> > >> Many in your South would agree with that. > > > > Climate largely determines politics. In a pleasant, warm climate, > > there's really much less need for government, since people don't really > > need shelter very much, most of the time. Hence, the American South > > has always been anti-government. Hence, Russia, Scandinavia, Britain > > and Canada have always had strong central governments -- can't survive > > without some centralized planning, in the cold. > > Always since when? Because the history of Russia before 1000, Scandinavia > before 900, Britain before 800, and still less Canada before Europeans > started settling there, doesn't suggest a strong central government. And > as for Iceland (which is also a fair way north), they didn't get any > strong central government until the 13th century. > > And all this when the Mediterranean nations, and the Middle East, and > India, and China, had all developed strong central governments (some of > them several times in succession)! > > Maybe climate isn't so important? > > > Hence, the French and > > Italians are more easy going than the British. Hence Australians have > > the outlaw hero tradition in common with Americans. > > > > > > -- > Pete BARRETT Ah, Pete, I like the way you think! An elegant challenge. By, "always", of course, I mean in the last few centuries, given moderately large populations. Because the other critical variable determining political structure is population size. Extremely small populations don't require governments at all, people can exist in a primitive hunter/gatherer type of lifestyle, and they do. Indeed, this is the basis for the American hostility to all government -- the colonial and frontier tradition. Now, what happened in the cradles of civilization -- China, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and India -- is that agriculture became the means of increasing population size to a point that -- for the first time -- large governments became necessary. So, let's consider these two variables -- population size, and climate. The larger the population, the more government is necessary. The more difficult the climate, the more government is necessary. California has a wonderful climate, but, with a European population density, it is one of the most socialist nations in the U.S. Australia has a terrific climate, and a low population density -- hence, a very easy going place to live. India has a good climate, but, with over a billion people, socialism is necessary to control things. And take your home of Britain, Pete -- please! Cold, wet, overpopulated and regulated to the hilt and the max -- just to keep things under control. God Save the Queen!