The Paradox of Imperialism - Hans-Hermann Hoppe - Mises Daily

The Paradox of Imperialism - Hans-Hermann Hoppe - Mises Daily: "Other things being equal, the lower the tax and regulation burden imposed on the domestic economy, the larger the population will tend to grow and the larger the amount of domestically produced wealth on which the state can draw in its conflicts with neighboring competitors. That is, states which tax and regulate their economies comparatively little — liberal states — tend to defeat and expand their territories or their range of hegemonic control at the expense of less-liberal ones."

"In blurring the distinction between the rulers and the ruled ("we all rule ourselves"), democracy strengthened the identification of the public with a particular state. Rather than dynastic property disputes which could be resolved through conquest and occupation, democratic wars became ideological battles"

"It became increasingly difficult for members of the public to extricate themselves from personal involvement in war."