I'd say that the above summary of the article is incorrect. The article poses that a strong, central state is essential for the elimination of clan structures as the fundamental organizing principle of a society. It also states that the concept of individual liberty we have today could only develop under such strong, central states, and that strong, central states are essential to the preservation of that liberty. The 'natural' inclination of any society is to gravitate back towards clannish behavior, and the role of the state is to prevent that kind of ba... (read more)
I'd say that the above summary of the article is incorrect. The article poses that a strong, central state is essential for the elimination of clan structures as the fundamental organizing principle of a society. It also states that the concept of individual liberty we have today could only develop under such strong, central states, and that strong, central states are essential to the preservation of that liberty. The 'natural' inclination of any society is to gravitate back towards clannish behavior, and the role of the state is to prevent that kind of ba... (read more)