[A. Pole]

As Machiavelli demonstrated, a state which wants to become an empire needs to import many people.

These republics which want to remain free and stable for a long time should emulate Sparta or Venice, but they have to forego the hegemony and imperial glory.

See The Beginning of Machiavelli's Rome's

[janetgreen]

Thank you for that link. It's now bookmarked, and I look forward to reading it.