There are not many* attempts to write a full, global, history of Government since its inception 4-5 millennia ago.

Grant Duncan has written one which doesn't cover everything - but focuses instead on the ideas (and realities) of government from a more global perspective - starting with historical Chinese thought and practice.

I hope our discussions captures some of his ideas - but it's worth reading the book!

*The two biggest attempts are Samuel Finer's 'The History of Government' (3 volumes) and more recently Francis Fukuyama's two books on 'Political Order'. Grant has packed his survey into one volume.