| The surface of the Earth is divided into over 200 internationally recognized states, but only a fraction of these are what could be called nation-states ---that is, states whose people generally agree that they are members of the same national group first and foremost, and therefore consider themselves related to one another on an ideological level. What binds people from different backgrounds into a cohesive nation that is capable of effective collective action? In this dissertation, I develop two computational models---the Territorial Resources Model and the Ideological Alliances Model---and use them to test conflict-based theories of nation-state formation. I find these models generate complex patterns of national consolidation similar to the historical record in both the ancient and early Modern eras, suggesting that intergroup conflict is a good candidate explanation for variance in modern state formation outcomes. |
