Political Unification: A Generalized Progression Theorem

A characteristic feature of modern civilization is the steady growth of government.1 This government growth occurs under two forms: either through a more intense taxation of its present subjects, or through bringing more people under its control. In other terms, government growth can either be an “intensification” or an “extensification” of hegemony. Since government growth means that private-property rights have been more invaded than before, the fundamental problem of bringing more persons under government control is that some persons are likely to resist. Yet, which factors determine this resistance? Why is it that a government sometimes can extend its dominance over people who live in other territories, whereas in other cases it cannot? And why does each extension of power go hand in hand with an increase of taxes?

Volume 13, Number 1 (1997)