One of my favorite dynamics: Warrior class that really kicks butt, takes control over the state and then slowly becomes obsolete but is so embedded in the social structure that it just sticks around sucking up vast resources for hundreds of years.

I've read the Ottoman Empire had this happen with the Janissaries, but there are lots of other instances of the military becoming a colossal useless but dangerous parasite, even lots of current-day ones.

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jsomedon 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

IIRC, the samurai class after Meiji reform period kinda fall into this category, they eventually emerge into Yakuza.

	▲	mitthrowaway2 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I think Tokugawa-era samurai fits the description better. The Meiji era saw the samurai stripped of most of their stipends and privileges, and with little left but their pride they had to go find respectable jobs.

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RobotToaster 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Sparta, their entire civilization basically atrophied because of it.

	▲	usrnm 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Sparta was built on slavery, their obsession with war was necessary to keep their slaves in check and deal with constant uprisings, it was very practical for their way of life.
	▲	throwiudjd 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		No, it was because of the low fertility rate. Most powerful class in Sparta were rich widows, even kings had to borrow money from them.
	▲	altmanaltman 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Its also because they built it entirely on slaves and refused citizenship to most. 300 was an entertaining movie but it left out the slavery that was central to Sparta.

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throwiudjd 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Sounds like current US. Military industrial complex just starts wars randomly, and does not bother with approval from senate.

	▲	otherme123 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I live in a country that was ruled by the military many times in the past, and the US never looked to me under treat of a military coup. In my country, any political problem real or perceived, and part of the population are already asking for the military to attempt a coup and fix things.

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vasco 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

See any military junta or dictatorship.