Forced labor was absolutely the norm for the pre-modern state, and provided the bulk of the workforce [1]. AFAIK humanity is yet to produce a society where the

Forced labor was absolutely the norm for the pre-modern state, and provided the bulk of the workforce [1]. AFAIK humanity is yet to produce a society where the majority of farm laborers are fully free to leave the land they work on (whether via having their papers confiscated, their wages held until the season ends, by having transport provided to a remote farm but the trip back withheld etc). We've seen improvements in the degree of freedom, particularly over the past century and especially the past 50 years, but it's still very low compared to urban dwellers. 1: "Against the Grain", James C Scott