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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 2. Population / b. State population

[appropriate size of a state's population]

10 ideas
The size of a city is decided by the maximum self-sufficient community that can be surveyed [Aristotle]
In small republics citizens identify with the public good, and abuses are fewer [Montesquieu]
In a large republic there is too much wealth for individuals to manage it [Montesquieu]
A state must be big enough to preserve itself, but small enough to be governable [Rousseau]
Too much land is a struggle, producing defensive war; too little makes dependence, and offensive war [Rousseau]
If the state enlarges, the creators of the general will become less individually powerful [Rousseau]
If the population is larger, the government needs to be more powerful [Rousseau]
Vast empires are bad for well-being and freedom, though they may promote glory [Tocqueville]
People would be much happier and freer in small nations [Tocqueville]
The economic and political advantages of great size seem to have no upper limit [Russell]