The Narrow Corridor

1. Liberty Requires a Balance Between State and Society

Our answer is simple: Liberty needs the state and the laws. But it is not given by the state or the elites controlling it. It is taken by regular people, by society.

State and Society. Liberty isn't a gift from benevolent rulers, nor does it flourish in anarchy. It emerges from a dynamic equilibrium where a strong state, capable of enforcing laws and providing public services, is checked and balanced by an equally strong and mobilized society. This balance prevents the state from becoming despotic and ensures it serves the interests of its citizens.

The Gilgamesh Problem. The challenge lies in controlling the state's power. Like the mythical King Gilgamesh, unchecked authority leads to tyranny. Doppelgänger solutions or mere checks and balances are insufficient; a vigilant and engaged society is essential to hold the state accountable.

Mobilized Society. A mobilized society participates in politics, protests when necessary, and votes governments out of power. This active engagement ensures the state protects and promotes liberty rather than quashing it.

2. The Red Queen Effect Drives Progress or Instability

Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.

Constant Struggle. Achieving and maintaining liberty is not a one-time event but a continuous process. The state and society must constantly adapt and evolve, like the Red Queen in Through the Looking-Glass, to maintain their relative positions. This ongoing struggle, though messy, is the engine of progress.

Competition and Cooperation. The Red Queen effect involves both competition and cooperation. The state and society compete to check each other's power, but they also cooperate to achieve common goals. This interplay fosters greater capacity and responsiveness.

The Narrow Corridor. The balance between state and society exists within a narrow corridor. Deviating too far in either direction leads to either despotism or anarchy. Navigating this corridor requires constant vigilance and adaptation.

3. The Will to Power Can Undermine Liberty

The Führer alone is the present and future German reality and its law.

Despotic Leviathan. The "will to power," the desire of individuals or groups to accumulate political and economic control, can undermine liberty. This often leads to the emergence of a Despotic Leviathan, a powerful state that represses its citizens and stifles dissent.

State Capacity for Repression. A capable state, without societal checks, can be used for nefarious purposes. Nazi Germany, with its efficient bureaucracy and military, exemplifies this danger. The state's capacity was used not to protect citizens but to persecute and murder them.

The Gilgamesh Problem Revisited. The Despotic Leviathan highlights the Gilgamesh problem: how to control the power of the state so that it serves the people rather than dominating them. The will to power, unchecked, leads to tyranny.

4. Absent Leviathans Impose a Cage of Norms

When a chicken separates itself from the rest, a hawk will get it.

Stateless Societies. The absence of a strong state doesn't automatically lead to liberty. In many stateless societies, a "cage of norms" emerges, imposing rigid social expectations and restricting individual freedoms.

The Akan Example. The Akan people of Ghana, though lacking a centralized state, developed a complex system of social norms to resolve conflicts and maintain order. However, these norms also created a rigid social hierarchy and limited individual autonomy.

Voluntary Servitude. To avoid the "hawks" of violence and chaos, individuals often accept "voluntary servitude," submitting to the dominance of chiefs, elders, or kinship groups. This creates a spectrum of unfreedom, where liberty is sacrificed for security.

5. Despotic Leviathans Offer Limited, Unequal Growth

The Passions that encline men to Peace, are Feare of Death; Desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a Hope by their Industry to obtain them.

Economic Incentives. Despotic states can create a degree of order and predictability, fostering economic activity. However, this "despotic growth" is limited and unequal, benefiting primarily the elites who control the state.

The Laffer Curve. The Despotic Leviathan often falls prey to the "Laffer Curve," where excessive taxation and regulation stifle economic incentives and ultimately reduce state revenues. This leads to economic stagnation and decline.

The Chinese Example. China's "Great Leap Forward" demonstrates the limitations of despotic growth. The state's attempt to rapidly transform the economy resulted in widespread famine and economic disaster.

6. Shackled Leviathans Foster Broad-Based Prosperity

I stood casting my strong shield around both parties and allowed neither to triumph unjustly.

Economic Opportunities. The Shackled Leviathan creates a level playing field, fostering broad-based economic opportunities and incentives. This leads to greater experimentation, innovation, and social mobility.

The Italian Communes. The Italian communes of the Middle Ages, with their republican governments and emphasis on trade, provide an example of a Shackled Leviathan fostering economic prosperity. These communes saw a flourishing of commerce, finance, and innovation.

The U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution, with its checks and balances and protection of individual rights, created a framework for a Shackled Leviathan. This fostered economic growth and social mobility, though with significant limitations, particularly for enslaved people and African Americans.

7. History Shapes the Path to Liberty

The Führer alone is the present and future German reality and its law.

Path Dependence. A nation's history shapes its path to liberty. Past choices and events create enduring legacies that influence the present and future. This means that there is no single path to liberty, and different societies will face unique challenges and opportunities.

The Chinese Example. China's long history of centralized, despotic rule makes it difficult to transition to a Shackled Leviathan. The state's dominance over society has created a deeply ingrained culture of subservience and limited political participation.

The Importance of Agency. While history matters, it is not destiny. Leaders, elites, and political entrepreneurs can play a critical role in shaping a society's trajectory. Their actions can either reinforce existing patterns or create new possibilities for liberty.

8. Structural Factors Conditionally Influence State-Society Relations

Ambush involves taking up a position in covert in the mountains or plains of Albania and lying in wait for an enemy in the blood feud or someone else who is intended to be killed.

Conditional Effects. Structural factors, such as economic conditions, demographic shocks, and war, do not have a uniform impact on state-society relations. Their effects depend on the prevailing balance of power between state and society.

The European Experience. The Black Death, a demographic shock that decimated Europe's population, had divergent consequences. In Western Europe, it led to the decline of feudalism and the empowerment of peasants. In Eastern Europe, it led to the intensification of serfdom and the consolidation of elite power.

The Importance of Context. The impact of structural factors is conditional on the existing institutional and social context. There are no unambiguous conclusions to be drawn about structural factors without considering the specific circumstances of each society.

9. Coalitions are Critical for Transitions into the Corridor

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

Broad Coalitions. Transitions into the corridor often depend on the formation of broad coalitions that support both a strong state and a mobilized society. These coalitions must bridge existing divisions and create a shared vision for the future.

The U.S. Founding. The founding of the U.S. Republic involved a coalition between Federalists, who favored a strong central government, and Anti-Federalists, who feared tyranny. The Bill of Rights was a key compromise that appeased the Anti-Federalists and secured their support for the Constitution.

The South African Transition. The end of apartheid in South Africa was facilitated by a coalition between the African National Congress (ANC), representing the black majority, and white industrialists, who recognized the need for a more inclusive and stable society.

10. The International System Impacts National Trajectories

There is no power on earth to be compared to him.

External Influences. The international system, including international organizations, trade agreements, and geopolitical pressures, can significantly influence national trajectories. These external forces can either promote or hinder the development of liberty.

The International Human Rights Movement. The international human rights movement has played a crucial role in exposing and condemning human rights abuses, putting pressure on states to respect the rights of their citizens. This has helped to widen the corridor and promote liberty in many parts of the world.

The International State System. The international state system, with its emphasis on sovereignty and non-interference, can also prop up despotic regimes. By conferring legitimacy and providing resources, it can enable these regimes to resist pressure for reform and maintain their grip on power.

11. The Unshackled Leviathan: A Modern Dilemma

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The Expanding State. As societies become more complex, the state is called upon to take on more responsibilities, from regulating the economy to providing social services. This expansion of state power can create new opportunities for despotism.

The Need for Vigilance. To maintain liberty, society must become more capable and vigilant as the state expands. New mechanisms of accountability and transparency are needed to ensure that the state remains under control.

The American Example. The United States, with its strong tradition of individual rights and limited government, faces the challenge of adapting its institutions to meet the demands of a complex, interconnected world. Finding new ways to keep the Leviathan shackled is essential for preserving liberty in the twenty-first century.

Last updated: March 24, 2025