202504051625 Status: #idea Tags: #institutions #bureaucracy #government # Power in an empire is determined by control of the central sub-empire [[Empires are fractal]], meaning they are made up of many sub empires. Of these sub empires, there is usually one that is preeminent over the others (for example, the executive branch of the US government). Typically a large amount of resources will be spent internally on politicking to gain control of this sub empire. The more difficult it is to control the central sub empire, the more difficult it is to preserve and expand the empire (because more resources and energy will be directed internally to try to gain control of the sub empire). ## Related Ideas - [[Empires are fractal]] - [[Classifying empires]] - [[High power players in an empire cooperate when there are opportunities for expansion]] - [[One of the primary roles of a ruler or leader is to shape incentives]] - [[Great institutions require planning and insight from the beginning]] --- # References [[Great Founder Theory]]