In the absence of nuclear weapons and international trade, every nation's territorial borders would change frequently to reflect each nation's ability to enforce its claims.

Game theory predicts that such changes would be dampened by multiperiod considerations, so that temporary changes in the balance of kinetic power would not result in constantly shifting borders. But, generally speaking, territorial borders would manifest the current balance of lethal kinetic power across nations. Such adjustments in borders, including occasional absorption of wo nation by another, is good, in that it promotes the survival and prosperity of the fittest genes and memes.