"(I've thought several times that absolute monarchy DOES offer one real advantage. Take Kashmir as an example. If the King of India offered his second son to be married to a daughter of the King of Pakistan, with both families ceding their interest and claim to Kashmir to the young couple and setting the disputed territory up as an independent kingdom, they could pretty much settle the dispute right there. After all, both sides would be winning. But because neither country is an hereditary absolute monarchy, this solution is not available.) "

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This was tried in principle by the extended family of Queen Victoria.
It didn't really work out well.

Howie52
Course other factors were involved.

Germany seems to have had an inferiority complex of sorts among many other things.

Course, Pakistan and possibly the entire religious governments
in the region also seem to be somewhat infected by the same
disease to a degree.

And nothing in life is simple when power and control of others
is involved.

Seems as if all power corrupts. A little power corrupts just as much
as a lot of power.
And it seems that no one ever wants to pay for the party - except
sometimes for weddings.

Which brings us back to your post.

perhaps?