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How competition drove social complexity: the role of war in the emergence of States, both ancient and modern

Author

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  • Eduardo Alberto Crespo

    (Professor at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, no Instituto de Relações Internacionais e Defesa – IRID, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brasil.)

  • Tiago Nasser Appel

    (Professor of International Relations at Centro Universitário La Salle-RJ, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brasil.)

Abstract

The origin of human ultrasociality – the ability to cooperate in huge groups of genetically unrelated individuals – has long interested evolutionary and social theorists. In this article, we use cultural group or multilevel selection theory to explain how cultural traits needed to sustain large-scale complex societies necessarily arose as a result of competition among cultural groups. We apply the theory at two key particular junctures: (i) the emergence of the first States and hierarchical societies, and (ii) the Rise of Modern Nation-States and the associated Great Divergence in incomes between the West and the “Rest” that began in the eighteenth century. JEL Classification: O43; O1; N00; H56; F59.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Alberto Crespo & Tiago Nasser Appel, 2020. "How competition drove social complexity: the role of war in the emergence of States, both ancient and modern," Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Center of Political Economy, vol. 40(4), pages 728-745, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ekm:repojs:v:40:y:2020:i:4:id:95078
    DOI: 10.1590/0101-31572020-3055
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    JEL classification:

    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • F59 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Other

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