The State in the Third Millenium

The State in the Third Millennium
H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II
Published in 2009
213 Pages
Thibault’s Score: 5/5


The State in the Third Millennium is a masterpiece which shines light on all of the facets of statehood in our times. Written by the current reigning prince of Liechtenstein, the author is beyond credible.


Liechtenstein is probably the world’s most stable and wealthiest nation. When I visited Liechtenstein in 2017 I was shocked by what I found. The small mountain nation has managed to eliminate virtually all poverty, crime, and other social ills. I’ve had the privilege of speaking with the author’s cousin, H.S.H. Prince Michael, and found in him a man that was deeply in tuned with all of the geopolitical and world trends that I have been following over the last two years.


The State in the Third Millennium is a perfect summary of all of the reading and work that I have been engaged in for the few years. I would venture as far as saying that it is the perfect manifesto for the Startup Societies movement that I started.


Prince Hans-Adam II starts by outlining his theory of the state, which he later supports with numerous historical examples. The book starts by exposing the origins of the state in hunter-gatherer societies, and continues to explain how various historical events and trends have shaped the nature of the state throughout history. 


Particularly interesting is an early chapter where he explains how the changing technologies and strategies of warfare have affected the size and scope of government throughout the ages. He also has several interesting chapters where he explains the American experiment, Swiss democracy, and Liechtenstein’s own constitutional history. I also found the prince’s defense of monarchy and attack of democracy to be particularly convincing and poignant. 


I found the last few chapters to be less interesting. In them, the Prince shares his views on government spending, education, currency, and various other issues of statecraft. The last few chapters mirror the typical libertarian position, and I didn’t think that they added much to the masterpiece.


The State in the Third Millennium is a book that I can recommend like few others, especially to people in the Startup Societies movement.