zlacker

>>bookof+(OP)
The population numbers of other countries are only relevant when serving an imperial or colonial enterprise. In a way this article reads somewhat like a mob boss complaining that their accountant is skimming off the top.

If I were a rightful leader of all Nigeria I would make sure those numbers would never be accessible for westerners as it’s the fist thing you need to know when you decide to wage war of any kind against some people.

>>AreSho+wb
Do you really think the outcome of western militaries vs nigeria will be different if Nigeria has a million or a billion people?

>>Reptil+cd
How else are you going to estimate the number of soldiers to send, the overall cost, and the projected return from labor exploitation? How do you think wars are waged and what do you think motivates them?

>>AreSho+7e
Do you think that the British had an accurate census of the populations of all the places they were conquering on their attempt at world conquest in the 1600s-1800s?

>>anonym+Ne
Do you think they have an accurate census now? Isn’t this the very subject the author is trying to outline?

>>AreSho+tf
No, but you are the one presupposing that an accurate census is a necessary tool of colonialism and conquest, which seems not to be borne out in any way by the history of colonialism and conquest.

>>anonym+Uf
Modern data driven enterprises typically like to avoid failure and do so at an appropriate cost. They didn't have these tools at all in the past, and on occasion a misguided conquest could lead to the end of the conquesting nation.