The State of States

          In the beginning democracy, as most Western States imagine it, did not exist. Cultural groups were ruled by Chiefs and later by Kings or Emperors with authority over the life and death of the people, the right to collect taxes and make war.

        Large States and Empires were subdivided into Dukedoms/Provinces or the equivalent governed under the authority of the King or Emperor by a Duke, Governor, Bishop or equivalent.  

       The people in those States worked in the fields, mines, work shops, and as clergy for what today would be called minimum wage. Some citizens including soldiers, high clergy and assistants to the King, Emperor and governors might rise higher and live a better life than the serfs, workers and often slaves.

        Western democracy developed slowly in England, France and America beginning, it is said, with Magna Carta in 1215, when the English Barons convinced King John to relinquish some of his powers. There have been rumblings at other times in other jurisdictions, too, but the concept of free elections by citizens to create laws, collect taxes and make war is very recent since the beginning of human existence.

        Democracy is not the normal paradigm for organizing and governing distinct societies, ie the English, French, German, Chinese, Russians, Africans, people in South and Central America, Muslims, Hindus and so on. It is tenuous, at best, and subject to corruption by dictators, criminals, invaders, external powers, corporations, special interests and others. Examples include Hitler, Stalin, Chairman Mao, Castro, Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin, the list is endless.

        Will democracy as we know it in Canada exist in twenty years? Does it truly exist now? The question is even more urgent in the United States of America.

        In the not distant future States, whether they have the same geographic borders as in 2018, may be recognized in one of the following categories;

1-     Corporate states with pseudo democratic institutions managed by a cabal of extremely powerful institutions that control the elected officials that govern for the benefit of the cabal as roughly the modern equivalent of the Dukes and Barons of old. These states have the power to collect taxes and make war to protect corporate interests and expand markets.

2-     Political and religious dictator states with pseudo democratic institutions managed by an elite cabal controlling the military and police and through them the citizens for the benefit of the cabal. These states compete with corporate states and have the power to raise taxes and make war to extend their philosophy, influence and expand markets.

3-     Military dictator states with no democratic institutions exploit citizens to obtain natural resources to be sold to Corporate or Dictator states for the benefit of the ruling cabal. These states provide resources and markets to other states but do not make war outside their borders.

4-     Criminal states some with pseudo democratic institutions controlled by the most powerful cartel to benefit itself and manage less powerful cartels and elected governors. These states maintain military and police forces to protect their borders and to project their activities into other markets.

5-     Client states often have functioning democratic institutions but are subject to the will of Corporate or Dictator states to provide markets and resources. These states are stable and maintain military forces ostensibly to protect their borders but primarily to support associated Corporate or Dictator states when they project power.

6-     Conglomerate states are groups of isolated states with functioning democratic institutions cooperating to resist the incursion of Corporate and Dictator states that would turn them into Client states. They maintain military forces and may join with Client states in an emergency if it is in their best interest.

7-     Isolated states usually have functioning democratic institutions and maintain sufficient internal cohesion to resist becoming Corporate or Client states. They maintain military forces for protection against incursion by Corporate or Dictator states. They may join with Client states in an emergency if it is in their best interest.

8-     Failed states are geographic areas of diverse people with few if any functioning institutions run by war lords, narcos, criminals and others to exploit resources for the benefit of the few. They are exploited by Corporate and Dictator States.

Examples – by no means complete considering all the States that are members of the UN.

Corporate states – USA, Russia, Japan, Israel, South Korea, Brazil

Political and religious dictator states – China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Venezuela

Military dictator states – Egypt, Syria, North Korea, Viet Nam, Cuba, Afghanistan, Burma, Zimbabwe

Criminal states – Mexico, most Central American States, Philippines,

Client states – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas, Bolivia, Chile, Panama, Iraq, UK when it exits the EU.

Conglomerate states – European Union member countries, India

Isolated states – Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Peru, South Africa, Iceland, Singapore, Argentina

Failed states – Many central African States, Algeria, Haiti

         The relative power or influence of any state within its category is not equal and how it interacts with other states will be a function of its power, influence and allies. They will seldom operate in harmony with each other.

        Where will Canada fit in this structure? It is currently a client state with limited options based on the good will of the US, China, and to some extent the EU. As the US falls more and more deeply into the Corporate state paradigm, Canada’s options will become increasingly limited particularly as competition for power, markets and resources intensifies particularly within and between Corporate and Dictator states.