The Catâs Grand Strategy: Pieter de la Court on Holland and the Challenges and Prospects of Free-Riding Behaviour during the General Crisis of the Seventeenth Century

Paul Schuurman

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Chapter 1 The Catâs Grand Strategy

Pieter de la Court on Holland and the Challenges and Prospects of Free-Riding Behaviour during the General Crisis of the Seventeenth Century

In: Concepts of War, 1650-1900

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Paul Schuurman

Paul Schuurman
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 6â32

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004536678_003

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Abstract

Pieter de la Courtâs (1618-1685) Political Maxims of the State of Holland presented a remarkably consistent grand strategy for the Dutch province of Holland in relation to its Dutch allies and the European powers. I present an outline of this strategy that was built around the accomplishment and defence of commercial goals. I sketch a historical context that takes into account the general historical shift from tribute-taking agrarian societies towards commercial wealth-generating polities, and also the violent contemporary military and ideological background against which De la Courtâs strategy stands out. I argue that his strategy can be understood by his use of three basic game theoretic concepts (prisonerâs dilemma, assurance game and free-riding). And I stress the distinctive character of De la Courtâs work, by comparing the practical and strategic use of these concepts in the Maxims with the function of the same concepts in the philosophical contract theories of Thomas Hobbes and Benedict de Spinoza.

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Concepts of War, 1650-1900

From Free-Rider Strategies to Survival of the Fittest

Series:Â Value Inquiry Book Series, Volume: 383Â andÂ Studies in the History of Western Philosophy, Volume: 383

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004536678

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 11 Feb 2023

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- History
  - History of Warfare
- Philosophy

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Chapter 1 The Catâs Grand Strategy

Pieter de la Court on Holland and the Challenges and Prospects of Free-Riding Behaviour during the General Crisis of the Seventeenth Century

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Concepts of War, 1650-1900

From Free-Rider Strategies to Survival of the Fittest

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Chapter 1 The Catâs Grand Strategy