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Modern nation-state is a racket and oligopoly. So-called "recognized states" make monumental efforts at disallowing creation of new states and at making citize

Modern nation-state is a racket and oligopoly. So-called "recognized states" make monumental efforts at disallowing creation of new states and at making citizenship scarce, to help keep their monopoly. This doesn't seem to be in the benefit of Earth's people, and also amount of "unrecognized states" grows year by year. Previously, this backlog could only processed by holding a World War. It's an elephant in a room and I'm quite surprised I've never seen this idea discussed seriously anywhere.

jcranmer 8y ago
The creation of new states is far from a panacea for solving these sorts of conflicts. South Sudanese and Eritrean independence appears to have generally made their lives more miserable, for example. The real issue is that cultural identity is a very fluid concept, and states can try to steer their citizenry to express a very broad, inclusive notion of cultural attachment (as France and Germany did in the late 19th century) or a very narrow and exclusive sentiment (as the Ottoman Empire did).
- doombolt 8y ago
  I think being South Sudanese or Eritrean is much better than being murdered for being a separatist, on ethnic cleansing scale. What's with the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century? You seem to refer of it as of something well-know and yet I have no idea.
  - roywiggins 8y ago
    > I think being South Sudanese or Eritrean is much better than being murdered for being a separatist, on ethnic cleansing scale. Oh, there's still ethnic violence on a large scale in South Sudan. It's between different groups inside the new country. > Since the outbreak of conflict, armed groups have targeted civilians along ethnic lines, committed rape and sexual violence, destroyed property and looted villages, and recruited children into their ranks. https://www.cfr.org/interactives/global-conflict-tracker#!/conflict/civil-war-in-south-sudan https://www.cfr.org/interactives/global-conflict-tracker#!/c...
  - selimthegrim 8y ago
    He’s talking about the millet system, overlaid with a veneer of constitutionalism and parliamentary activity.
    - doombolt 8y ago
      After reading about millet system, I still do not understand why it corresponds to "a very narrow and exclusive sentiment".
      - selimthegrim 8y ago
        Seriously? If you're only judged by the laws of your own community?

jcranmer 8y ago

The creation of new states is far from a panacea for solving these sorts of conflicts. South Sudanese and Eritrean independence appears to have generally made their lives more miserable, for example. The real issue is that cultural identity is a very fluid concept, and states can try to steer their citizenry to express a very broad, inclusive notion of cultural attachment (as France and Germany did in the late 19th century) or a very narrow and exclusive sentiment (as the Ottoman Empire did).

doombolt 8y ago
I think being South Sudanese or Eritrean is much better than being murdered for being a separatist, on ethnic cleansing scale. What's with the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century? You seem to refer of it as of something well-know and yet I have no idea.
- roywiggins 8y ago
  > I think being South Sudanese or Eritrean is much better than being murdered for being a separatist, on ethnic cleansing scale. Oh, there's still ethnic violence on a large scale in South Sudan. It's between different groups inside the new country. > Since the outbreak of conflict, armed groups have targeted civilians along ethnic lines, committed rape and sexual violence, destroyed property and looted villages, and recruited children into their ranks. https://www.cfr.org/interactives/global-conflict-tracker#!/conflict/civil-war-in-south-sudan https://www.cfr.org/interactives/global-conflict-tracker#!/c...
- selimthegrim 8y ago
  He’s talking about the millet system, overlaid with a veneer of constitutionalism and parliamentary activity.
  - doombolt 8y ago
    After reading about millet system, I still do not understand why it corresponds to "a very narrow and exclusive sentiment".
    - selimthegrim 8y ago
      Seriously? If you're only judged by the laws of your own community?