What distinguishes natural states from open access societies?

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Natural States vs. Open Access Societies: A Distinction in Societal Organization

Natural states and open access societies represent fundamentally different frameworks for organizing human interaction and maintaining social order. The core distinction lies in how each system regulates economic competition, manages power, and defines the role of citizens. Natural states rely on controlling economic competition to generate rents that uphold social hierarchies, while open access societies foster competition to dissipate rents and promote broader citizen participation.
Regulation of Economic Competition and Rent Distribution

In natural states, the political system is employed to regulate economic competition, thereby creating and maintaining economic rents. These rents, which represent privileges and access to valuable resources or activities, are then utilized to order social relationships, control violence, and foster social cooperation among elites. This system inherently limits access to economic opportunities, benefiting a select few. In contrast, open access societies regulate economic competition in a manner that dissipates rents. Instead of concentrating wealth and power, competition itself becomes the mechanism for ordering social relationships. This approach allows for a wider distribution of economic opportunities and rewards.
Social Order and Citizen Participation

The maintenance of social order differs significantly between the two societal types. Natural states are characterized by a strong emphasis on personal relationships and social standing, where "who you know" holds more importance than "what you do." A small percentage of elites control the system, capturing the majority of societal gains, while the rest of the population exists as second-class citizens. Open access societies, however, maintain social order through the dynamic interaction of competition, institutions, and beliefs. Property rights and impersonal exchange are paramount, making "what you do and what you can do" more significant than personal connections or identity. Citizenship is extended to a growing proportion of the population, granting them the freedom to form organizations for various functions, with the primary restriction being the prohibition of violence.
Governance and Power Dynamics

The structure of governance and power dynamics also serves as a key differentiator. Natural states often feature a concentrated elite who control political, religious, and economic organizations, ensuring their dominance and the subordinate status of others. Attempts to challenge this control can be met with suppression. Open access societies, conversely, subject government control to political competition and institutional constraints. While the military may be concentrated in government hands, attempts to coerce citizens, either directly through violence or indirectly through economic manipulation, can lead to the mobilization of existing or newly formed organizations to gain control of the political system. This inherent check on power ensures that the government remains accountable to a broader citizenry.

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What distinguishes natural states from open access societies?

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