I don't have any simple answers. On the one hand, fragmentation makes for inefficiencies. On the other hand, the larger the extent of the central government, a greater number of minority groups might find themselves oppressed.
Even if you fragment the state, you'll probably find even smaller ethnic minorities find themselves oppressed. Most societies are like fractals, break them up and you'll find even smaller divisions within each element. One overriding problem is that by fragmenting political units, an imperial power will have an easier time controlling them. So here is the closest I can come to a simple answer: let us hope that we can get to a socialist society in which people cannot profit from stirring up racial and ethnic hatred; so that things that are truly local can be handled locally; and that people can learn to cooperate. Of course, how you get there -- that is the central question. On Fri, Jul 30, 2004 at 04:36:05PM +0100, Ulhas Joglekar wrote: > Michael Perelman, > > Some posters on this list have expressed their support > for the breakup of Russia, India, Iran, Iraq, Syria > and Turkey. I would like know what is your personal > opinion in this matter. > > Ulhas > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online > Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
