A cruise ship being attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean makes me wonder if we are witnessing a nascent state system. If these pirates can establish a regular and dominant presence in this region, they might enjoy a monopoly on the use of force – the accepted definition of a “government.” Their predations would then develop into a more formal taxation system. Permission for ships to enter “their” waterways would be conditioned upon the payment of imposts. In order to avoid the danger and inconvenience resulting from trans-oceanic chases, the pirates might establish a fixed platform (or a base … Continue reading A State in the Making