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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
  • Tiago Nasser Appel

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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ekm:repojs:v:40:y:2020:i:4:p:728-745:id:2082
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    File URL: https://centrodeeconomiapolitica.org.br/repojs/index.php/journal/article/view/2082/2182
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    Cited by:

    1. Moein Nedaei & Alexis Jacoby & Els Du Bois, 2022. "Design-Driven Conflicts: Exploring the Contribution of Design for Constructing Social Controversies from a Theoretical Standpoint," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cultural evolution; war; social complexity; States; great divergence;
    All these keywords.

    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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