Final answer:
Civilized life without government to maintain order would be unpredictable, as government is essential for enforcing laws and regulations that allow society to function. Thomas Hobbes suggested that without government life would be 'nasty, brutish, and short,' indicating the potential for chaos. Larger societies especially rely on governmental structures to prevent violence and disorder.
Step-by-step explanation:
Without government to maintain order, civilized life would be unpredictable. Government plays a crucial role in establishing and enforcing the rules and laws that allow individuals in a society to live together in relative peace and security. Notably, Thomas Hobbes proposed that a society without such regulation would be in a 'state of nature,' filled with tension, stress, and competition, leading to a chaotic, Darwinian existence. This would undermine the cooperation necessary for a society's survival and well-being, especially as populations grow. While some anthropologists have observed that small communities can function without formal governments, recognizing mutual aid and internal regulation, this does not scale well to larger, more complex societies.
Democracy today is widely regarded as a stable form of government that can address the needs and desires of its citizens. However, without the structures of government, including law enforcement and a judicial system, individuals must enforce order, potentially leading to violence and arbitrary justice. Anarchists argue that government perpetuates socioeconomic imbalances and advocate community-driven solutions, while others believe that governments are necessary to solve collective problems and maintain the societal status quo.