ABSTRACT
Every society and every political system is by definition threatened by divisions and cleavages that separate its various elements. At the same time, it is rare that those elements come into all-out conflict, for generally those participants in a sociopolitical system have common interests. However, the desire of each of the participants to advance private interests produces results calling to mind the Common Goods Dilemma (or the Prisoner’s Dilemma).2 Selfish decisions on the parts of individuals (or groups) produce results that are harmful not only to society as a whole but often to each of the participants. These negative results naturally become more pronounced when a society is threatened externally.
