The state in the third millennium : The reigning Prince of Liechtenstein : Hans Adam II

Prince Hans-Adam of Liechtenstein is able to look at the modern nation-state from many different angles: as a head of state; as a politician, who had to win popular votes in a direct democracy; as a businessman active in different continents; and as an historian who has studied the influence of military technology, transportation and the economy on the workings of the state. The State in the Third Millennium analyzes the forces that have shaped human history in the past and are likely to do so for the foreseeable future. These include religions, ideologies, military technology and economics. Prince Hans-Adam explores ways to make the traditional democratic constitutional state both more democratic and more efficient. He also discusses strategies on how to realise worldwide the modern democratic constitutional state in the third millennium. He observes that citizens should no longer be viewed as servants of the state, but rather that states be converted into benevolent service companies which serve the people as their customers. This is an elegant, original and lucidly argued work which will attract all students and observers of modern statecraft. What Should The State Look Like In The Third Millennium? That Is The Question Addressed In This Book By Hans-adam Ii, The Reigning Prince Of Liechtenstein, Drawing On Two Decades Of Experience As Ruler Of A Constitutional Monarchy. The State In The Third Millennium Analyzes The Forces That Have Shaped Human History In The Past And Are Likely To Do So For The Foreseeable Future. Prince Hans-adam Explores Strategies On How To Realize Worldwide The Modern Democratic Constitutional State In The Third Millennium. He Observes That Citizens Should No Longer Be Viewed As Servants Of The State, But Rather That States Be Converted Into Benevolent Service Companies Which Serve The People As Their Customers. Prince Hans-adam's Explorations Of Governance Range Wide, Including His Analysis Of Direct And Indirect Democracies Via The Experience Of The American Revolution And The Swiss Constitution Of 1848. He Draws Lessons On Opportunities For Reform Derived From His Own Observations Of Liechtenstein's Paths To Political Reform.--jacket. The Right To Self-determination -- A Personal Conviction -- The Origins Of The State -- The Role Of Religion In The Formation Of The State -- The Size Of States And The Influence Of Military Technology -- Monarchy, Oligarchy, Democracy -- The American Revolution And Indirect Democracy -- The Swiss Constitution Of 1848 And The Path To Direct Democracy -- Liechtenstein's Constitutional Reform Of 2003 -- The Deficiencies Of Traditional Democracy -- The State Of The Future -- The Constitutional State -- The Welfare State -- The Education System -- Transportation -- Public Finances -- The National Currency -- Other State Duties -- A Constitution For The State Of The Future -- Strategies To Achieve The State Of The Future -- A Perspective On The Third Millennium -- Appendix: A Draft Constitution For The State In The Third Millennium * Hans-adam Ii, The Reigning Prince Of Liechtenstein. Includes Index. Prince Hans-Adam of Liechtenstein is able to look at the modern nation-state from many different angles: as a head of state; as a politician, who had to win popular votes in a direct democracy; as a businessman active in different continents; and, as an historian who has studied the influence of military technology, transportation and the economy on the workings of the state. "The State in the Third Millennium" analyses the forces that have shaped human history in the past and are likely to do so for the foreseeable future. These include religions, ideologies, military technology and economics. Prince Hans-Adam explores ways to make the traditional democratic constitutional state both more democratic and more efficient. He also discusses strategies on how to realise worldwide the modern democratic constitutional state in the third millennium. He observes that citizens should no longer be viewed as servants of the state, but rather that states be converted into benevolent service companies which serve the people as their customers. This is an elegant, original and lucidly argued work which will attract all students and observers of modern statecraft Table of Contents Introduction 1. The right to self-determination - a personal conviction 2. The origins of the state 3. The role of religion in the formation of the state 4. The size of states and the influence of military technology 5. Monarchy, oligarchy, democracy 6. The American Revolution and indirect democracy 7. The Swiss constitution of 1848 and the path to direct democracy 8. Liechtenstein’s constitutional reform of 2003 9. The deficiencies of traditional democracy 10. The state of the future 10.1 The constitutional state 10.2 The welfare state 10.3 The education system 10.4 Transportation 10.5 Public finances 10.6 The national currency 10.7 Other state duties 11. A constitution for the state of the future 12. Strategies to achieve the state of the future 13. A perspective on the third millennium Appendix: A draft constitution for the state in the third millennium Index Analyzes the forces that have shaped human history such as religions, ideologies, military technology and economics. This title explores the ways to make the traditional democratic constitutional state both more democratic and more efficient. It discusses strategies on how to realize the democratic constitutional state in the 3rd millennium.