Autorentext
Leopold Kohr, an economist by profession, was the originator of the concept of 'the human scale', an idea later popularised by his friend, E. F. Schumacher in his bestselling book Small is Beautiful. Born near Salzberg in 1909, Kohr was an ecologist by profession, holding academic positions at many universities.

Klappentext

A fascinating manifesto, proposing that the world should be split into smaller regions to distribute power more evenly. Written by one of the most original political thinkers of the 20th century, in The Breakdown of Nations, Leopold Kohr shows that throughout history people living in small states are happier, more peaceful, more creative and more prosperous. He argues that virtually all our political and social problems would be greatly diminished if the world's major countries were to dissolve back into the small states from which they sprang. Rather than making even larger political unions, in the mistaken belief that this will bring peace and security, we should minimise the aggregation of power by returning to a patchwork of small, relatively powerless states where leaders are accessible to and responsive to the people. Originally published in 1957, this new edition features forewords by Neal Ascherson and Richard Body. The material has been noted for its striking relevance to the current political situation, with globalisation, war, nuclear weapons and the rise of electronic gadgets leading to concern over whether we should re-examine the implications of the size of political groupings, whether they be states, nations or federations. In these turbulent times, recognise the beauty and potential in small political nations with this inspiring read.

Zusammenfassung
Rather than making ever larger political unions, in the mistaken belief that this will bring peace and security, we should minimise the aggregation of power by returning to a patchwork of small, relatively powerless states, where leaders are accessible to and responsive to the people.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements
Preface to the 1986 Edition
Foreword by Neal Ascherson
Foreword by Richard Body
Introduction

The Philosophies of Misery
The Power Theory of Aggression
Disunion Now
Tyranny in a Small-State World
The Physics of Politics: The Philosophic Argument
Individual and Average Man: The Political Argument
The Glory of the Small: The Cultural Argument
The Efficiency of the Small: The Economic Argument
Union Through Division: The Administrative Argument
The Elimination of Great Powers: Can It Be Done?
But Will It Be Done?
The American Empire

Appendices: The Principle of Federation Presented in Maps
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index