By Tim Gamble
Note: This is an updated version of an earlier essay, reprinted to shed light on geopolitics and its impact on building personal and generational wealth.
Mental models shape how we understand the world and guide our decision-making. The better our mental models, the sounder our judgments. Military strategist John Boyd emphasized that in any conflict, victory goes not to the side with the most information, but to the one with the best understanding of the information at hand. This principle applies not only to warfare but also to navigating the complex world of geopolitics and wealth-building.The Chaostan Model: A Lens for Geopolitical ClarityEconomist and historian Richard J. Maybury’s Chaostan model offers a powerful framework for understanding global dynamics. Chaostan, meaning "land of chaos," refers to a vast swath of the world marked by political and economic instability, limited personal and economic freedom, and a lack of common (natural) law. These regions—spanning roughly 100 nations, including much of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—are often defined by tribal loyalties, ethnic divisions, and religious sects that overshadow allegiance to modern nation-states. (For more info, visit the Chaostan website.)Chaostan covers about one-third of the world’s land surface and holds a disproportionate share of its natural resources: at least 80% of global oil, 50% of coal, and the majority of rare earth metals critical to technology and the green economy. It’s also rich in natural gas, gold, silver, platinum, copper, tin, iron, zinc, timber, and grain—resources that underpin industrialized civilization. This gives Chaostan outsized influence over Western economies.Yet, despite this abundance, Chaostan’s people are often among the world’s poorest. While ruling elites amass vast wealth, the average citizen suffers from limited education and a lack of economic liberty and personal property rights—core pillars of prosperity.The Lands of Liberty: A ContrastMaybury contrasts Chaostan with the “Lands of Liberty,” nations with established traditions of economic freedom, property rights, and loyalty to nation-states over tribal or sectarian divides. These include the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, the UK, Ireland, and most of Western Europe. Here, domestic peace and prosperity prevail. Central and South America fall somewhere in between, their future direction uncertain.Why Chaostan Matters for Wealth-BuildingThe stark differences between Chaostan and the Lands of Liberty create tension and misunderstanding. Chaostan’s people often harbor resentment toward the West, fueled by religious differences, wealth disparities and historical grievances. Meanwhile, Westerners may view Chaostan as backward or threatening. Ignoring these differences—or worse, pretending both systems are morally equivalent—is a mistake.
The Lands of Liberty, despite imperfections, have demonstrably superior systems. Their domestic stability, economic success, and respect for human rights stand in sharp contrast to Chaostan’s chaos. However, imposing Western values on Chaostan through force, such as nation-building, is futile. Chaostan’s worldview and cultural foundations differ too fundamentally to be reshaped externally.
Yet, the West must protect itself from Chaostan’s threats. This includes controlling immigration, ensuring that newcomers from Chaostan assimilate into Western values, and rejecting accommodations like Sharia law that undermine our system. It also means preventing unstable regimes, like North Korea or Iran, from developing nuclear capabilities, as their lack of responsible governance makes them inherently aggressive.Interdependence and the Clash of CivilizationsIsolating from Chaostan isn’t an option. The West relies on its resources, while Chaostan needs Western markets, technology, medicine, and education. Decades of lax immigration policies have also brought millions from Chaostan to the West, often without requiring assimilation, creating internal cultural tensions.This dynamic fuels a broader clash of civilizations. Most global hotspots—wars, violence, poverty—stem from Chaostan’s lack of liberty, property rights, and stable governance, compounded by tribal and sectarian divides. The refusal of some Chaostan immigrants to integrate into Western societies further exacerbates these conflicts.A Warning for the WestChaostan serves as a cautionary tale for the Lands of Liberty. If we abandon personal and economic freedom, property rights, and our Judeo-Christian heritage in favor of collectivism, socialism, or enforced ideological conformity, we risk descending into chaos ourselves. The West’s current trajectory—toward centralized control and eroded freedoms—suggests this danger is real.Building Wealth Amid ChaosFor those seeking to build personal and generational wealth, the Chaostan model offers critical insights:
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Note: This is an updated version of an earlier essay, reprinted to shed light on geopolitics and its impact on building personal and generational wealth.
Mental models shape how we understand the world and guide our decision-making. The better our mental models, the sounder our judgments. Military strategist John Boyd emphasized that in any conflict, victory goes not to the side with the most information, but to the one with the best understanding of the information at hand. This principle applies not only to warfare but also to navigating the complex world of geopolitics and wealth-building.The Chaostan Model: A Lens for Geopolitical ClarityEconomist and historian Richard J. Maybury’s Chaostan model offers a powerful framework for understanding global dynamics. Chaostan, meaning "land of chaos," refers to a vast swath of the world marked by political and economic instability, limited personal and economic freedom, and a lack of common (natural) law. These regions—spanning roughly 100 nations, including much of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—are often defined by tribal loyalties, ethnic divisions, and religious sects that overshadow allegiance to modern nation-states. (For more info, visit the Chaostan website.)Chaostan covers about one-third of the world’s land surface and holds a disproportionate share of its natural resources: at least 80% of global oil, 50% of coal, and the majority of rare earth metals critical to technology and the green economy. It’s also rich in natural gas, gold, silver, platinum, copper, tin, iron, zinc, timber, and grain—resources that underpin industrialized civilization. This gives Chaostan outsized influence over Western economies.Yet, despite this abundance, Chaostan’s people are often among the world’s poorest. While ruling elites amass vast wealth, the average citizen suffers from limited education and a lack of economic liberty and personal property rights—core pillars of prosperity.The Lands of Liberty: A ContrastMaybury contrasts Chaostan with the “Lands of Liberty,” nations with established traditions of economic freedom, property rights, and loyalty to nation-states over tribal or sectarian divides. These include the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, the UK, Ireland, and most of Western Europe. Here, domestic peace and prosperity prevail. Central and South America fall somewhere in between, their future direction uncertain.Why Chaostan Matters for Wealth-BuildingThe stark differences between Chaostan and the Lands of Liberty create tension and misunderstanding. Chaostan’s people often harbor resentment toward the West, fueled by religious differences, wealth disparities and historical grievances. Meanwhile, Westerners may view Chaostan as backward or threatening. Ignoring these differences—or worse, pretending both systems are morally equivalent—is a mistake.
The Lands of Liberty, despite imperfections, have demonstrably superior systems. Their domestic stability, economic success, and respect for human rights stand in sharp contrast to Chaostan’s chaos. However, imposing Western values on Chaostan through force, such as nation-building, is futile. Chaostan’s worldview and cultural foundations differ too fundamentally to be reshaped externally.
Yet, the West must protect itself from Chaostan’s threats. This includes controlling immigration, ensuring that newcomers from Chaostan assimilate into Western values, and rejecting accommodations like Sharia law that undermine our system. It also means preventing unstable regimes, like North Korea or Iran, from developing nuclear capabilities, as their lack of responsible governance makes them inherently aggressive.Interdependence and the Clash of CivilizationsIsolating from Chaostan isn’t an option. The West relies on its resources, while Chaostan needs Western markets, technology, medicine, and education. Decades of lax immigration policies have also brought millions from Chaostan to the West, often without requiring assimilation, creating internal cultural tensions.This dynamic fuels a broader clash of civilizations. Most global hotspots—wars, violence, poverty—stem from Chaostan’s lack of liberty, property rights, and stable governance, compounded by tribal and sectarian divides. The refusal of some Chaostan immigrants to integrate into Western societies further exacerbates these conflicts.A Warning for the WestChaostan serves as a cautionary tale for the Lands of Liberty. If we abandon personal and economic freedom, property rights, and our Judeo-Christian heritage in favor of collectivism, socialism, or enforced ideological conformity, we risk descending into chaos ourselves. The West’s current trajectory—toward centralized control and eroded freedoms—suggests this danger is real.Building Wealth Amid ChaosFor those seeking to build personal and generational wealth, the Chaostan model offers critical insights:
- Resource Dependence: The West’s reliance on Chaostan’s resources means geopolitical instability can disrupt markets. Diversify investments to hedge against supply chain risks.
- Cultural Awareness: Understand the cultural and ideological divides driving global conflicts to anticipate risks and opportunities in international markets.
- Preserving Liberty: Protect the principles of economic freedom and personal property rights in your own country, as they are the foundation of lasting wealth.
- Resilience: Build financial and personal resilience to withstand the chaos that may spill over from global hotspots or internal cultural shifts.
- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? A clear, engaging explanation of economics for success in your career, business, and investments. (Amazon link)
- Whatever Happened to Justice? An exploration of what’s gone wrong with America’s legal system and economy—and how to fix it. (Amazon link)
Want more strategies to outsmart the system and build your legacy? Join my email list by clicking here for exclusive insights, updates, and tools to stay ahead of the curve. Don’t stay in the dark — sign up and start fighting back today!
