The Narrow Corridor Summary

Why has liberty been so rare in human history, and what does it take for societies to achieve and maintain it?

1. Liberty Thrives in a Delicate Balance Between State and Society

Liberty, as argued by the authors, hinges on a balance where both the state and society hold one another accountable. If the state overpowers society, despotism emerges. If society is unorganized or too weak, anarchy prevails. This concept is illustrated as the "narrow corridor" – a metaphorical path requiring constant negotiation and adjustment.

The Epic of Gilgamesh provides a vivid example. In the tale, the state, personified by the tyrant Gilgamesh, holds unchecked power over society, leading to oppression. The creation of Enkidu, designed to counterbalance Gilgamesh, initially seems like a solution. However, without a mobilized society to sustain equilibrium, the two figures consolidate their power, reinforcing tyranny.

Maintaining this corridor demands significant effort. Achieving liberty requires patience, the development of institutions, and the continual adjustment and interplay between state and society. Balance can’t be forced overnight, making the narrow corridor a long journey rather than a destination.

Examples

• In Uruk, society lacked the organization to check Gilgamesh’s power, resulting in tyranny.
• The narrow corridor emphasizes sustaining equilibrium over time, not immediate fixes.
• Elites frequently exploit unchecked power when society is unprepared to counteract.

2. A Strong Central Government Is Essential for Liberty

The absence of a functioning state prevents a society from achieving liberty. Without central authority, lawlessness and violence often dominate. Hobbes called this state of chaos "Warre"—a condition where individual survival takes precedence, and society cannot establish order.

Take 1990s Lagos, Nigeria, where a military dictatorship left cities ungoverned. Streets were lawless, with gangs terrorizing citizens, infrastructure crumbled, and public services disappeared. Similar historical patterns appear in ancient hunter-gatherer societies with high rates of violent deaths and insecurity.

While a strong state is necessary, it is not sufficient alone. Excessive state power can also oppress. This underscores Hobbes’ philosophy of the Leviathan, a centralized government essential for taming chaos but one that must be balanced to prevent tyranny.

Examples

• Lagos faced anarchy due to the absence of a functioning government.
• Hobbes’ depiction of "Warre" describes life in stateless societies.
• Archaeological studies show early human societies endured high rates of violence without central authority.

3. Ancient Athens: A Model for Balancing Power

Athens provides a historical example of achieving liberty by empowering citizens while restraining the state. Solon’s reforms in 594 BCE laid the groundwork for democracy by balancing the interests of elites with the broader society.

Solon strengthened the Athenian state by establishing enforceable laws and creating a court system accessible to all citizens. At the same time, political participation expanded. These actions ensured that neither the state nor the elites could dominate society outright. This dynamic interplay created what the authors term the "Shackled Leviathan," a government powerful enough to maintain order but restrained by a mobilized society.

Athens achieved this balance through the "Red Queen effect." Like a race where neither side can pull too far ahead, the state and society’s contest resulted in stable liberty. This model demonstrates how institutions can evolve to support freedom.

Examples

• Solon’s laws empowered citizens and restrained elite dominance.
• Courts established during Solon’s tenure applied to all equally.
• The "Red Queen effect" sustained a competitive balance between state and society.

4. Cultural Norms Can Lock Societies in Weakness

Societies sometimes remain trapped in conditions without a viable state because of rigid cultural norms. These "cages of norms" dictate behavior and prevent the emergence of central authority or political hierarchy.

The authors highlight the Tiv people of Nigeria, whose cultural norms discouraged power consolidation. British colonial rulers tried to impose chiefs on the Tiv, but a local movement accused such leaders of practicing cannibalism, undermining their legitimacy. The Tiv’s suspicion of leadership prevented both state-building and societal organization.

Rigid norms can also drain potential for economic and social growth. They restrict new ideas or legitimate leadership, leaving societies unable to escape an Absent Leviathan scenario.

Examples

• Tiv norms opposed hierarchical structures, undoing colonial attempts at leadership.
• Accusations of cannibalism became a tool for delegitimizing imposed leaders.
• Social norms stifled the development of governance and economic progress.

5. Progress Can Be Imperfect and Unequal

The process of achieving liberty through the Red Queen effect often results in an unequal and messy outcome. The balance between state and society rarely satisfies all groups equally, leaving disadvantaged communities excluded.

The United States exemplifies this tension. Although lauded for its liberal framework, slavery persisted in its early history, blatantly denying liberty to millions. Even today, systemic issues—like inadequate policing in poor neighborhoods—show disparities in liberty.

The authors argue that while the Shackled Leviathan framework promotes freedom, it does not ensure an equitable or flawless government. Progress through the narrow corridor is incremental and fraught with compromise.

Examples

• Slavery in early America contradicted the liberty enshrined in its founding documents.
• Disadvantaged communities in the US face disproportionately high rates of violence.
• The decentralized US health care system leaves gaps in service coverage.

6. Tyranny Crushes Liberty but Can Spur Growth

Some states achieve economic growth under highly centralized, despotic governments. However, this development is often short-lived and incompatible with sustained liberty.

China under Mao Zedong experienced despotic growth. Through harsh policies and programs like the "Great Leap Forward," the government controlled the economy entirely. But this came at the cost of human suffering and oppressive reeducation camps, which terrorized dissenters.

Despotic Leviathans can foster short-term stability or industrialization. Yet, without checks on power, corruption and instability undermine enduring prosperity and freedom.

Examples

• Mao’s reeducation camps punished dissent with inhumane treatment.
• The "Great Leap Forward" prioritized industrial growth over individual welfare.
• Corruption stemming from unchecked power threatens China’s economy today.

7. Rules and Norms Can Hinder Development

A society’s traditions or social organization may hinder government functionality and liberty. Consider India’s caste system, rooted in rigid social norms that restrict job choices and reinforce inequality.

The caste system misaligns talent with opportunity. Many Indians remain locked into professions dictated by birth, wasting potential and stalling economic innovation. This reduces societal unity, leaving power consolidation to elites or traditional hierarchies.

In some cases, societal norms even reinforce authoritarian rule. Saudi Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islamic principles serves to amplify the monarchy’s power while discouraging dissent or mobilization.

Examples

• The Indian caste system limits job mobility and economic innovation.
• Social fragmentation in India prevents collective pushes for reform.
• Saudi monarchy leverages religious leadership to consolidate authority.

8. Paper Leviathans Are Governments in Name Only

States like Argentina demonstrate what the authors call a Paper Leviathan—weak governments incapable of enforcing laws or delivering services, leaving citizens to fend for themselves.

Argentina’s welfare programs and bureaucracy remain unreliable. Citizens like Leticia, struggling to register for social assistance, face endless delays and unfulfilled promises. With an ineffective state and a disorganized society, the balance required for liberty is absent.

Paper Leviathans often emerge from colonization, where inefficient institutions were imposed without including the local population. These states may never develop the structures or societal mobilization needed for balance.

Examples

• Welfare programs in Argentina fail due to mismanagement and lack of resources.
• Colonial rulers focused on exploiting resources rather than building governance.
• Weak states exacerbate inequality and erode public trust.

9. Polarization Creates Risk for Liberty

Divided societies or highly polarized political environments can push states out of the narrow corridor. When elites and society lose the ability to compromise, systems collapse into tyranny or chaos.

Germany’s Weimar Republic serves as a cautionary tale. Fearing leftist movements, elites supported far-right factions, including the Nazis. Public polarization made it impossible to maintain balance, allowing despotic forces to seize control.

Dissent and division weaken the mobilizing effect of society while amplifying risks of abuse by elites. Without leaders willing to bridge differences, liberty erodes.

Examples

• German elites backed the Nazis to counter Marxist factions.
• Police and judiciary favored Nazi supporters during the Weimar era.
• Societal divisions prevented effective resistance to tyranny.

Takeaways

1. Foster accountability between governments and citizens through mutual checks and balances to work toward liberty.
2. Resist polarization by supporting dialogue and collaboration among competing groups to avoid destructive conflicts.
3. Use history as a guide; study past successes and failures to understand how liberty emerges and how it fades.