Goths appear spontaneously whenever the state fails to secure a normal and peaceful operation of society. When Rome was in decline, merchants on the island of Gotland needed to secure their trade routes, which stretched as far as Persia, Arabia and North Africa. Their solution was to establish armed trading posts along these routes, and to do this in a fashion that did not provoke anger in the local population.
This was achieved by adopting a simple honor code centered around their core business; namely the protection of property, including strict adherence to contract law. Goths were known to always deliver on their words. They could be trusted to deliver goods produced in Sweden to consumers far away, and the proceeds would be returned safely to the producers. This service was efficient, cheap and reliable.
Their honor code extended to all people along their trading routs. Merchants everywhere would use their services. The Goths were well liked. Law and order was established wherever they went. Their successful fight against criminal gangs and raiders made them popular also among established rulers. Kings and emperors would hire the Goths to clamp down on unrest.
What started as a pragmatic solution to a logistics problem morphed into a network of loosely affiliated mercenary armies, each with its own chieftain. In the west, they spoke French. In the east, they spoke German. The only thing they had in common was their honor code, and the precise interpretation of it was changing. The word of honor that was initially meant as a contract between traders and Goths as service providers, became increasingly used to establish loyalty towards the chieftain.
What emerged from this is the classic feudal structure of medieval Europe, with the king supreme at the top of an elaborate hierarchy of power. What had started as a pragmatic solution to the problems associated with centralized power, became itself the very definition of this problem. However, the legacy of the original Goths prevailed. Feudal kings tended to protect free trade, commerce and contract law. Combined with their early adaption of Christianity, the Goths created the West as we know it today, and they did this upon the ashes of the Roman empire.
The West is an extension of the Roman empire into modern times, modified by Christianity and the honor code of the Goths. But the West is now as corrupt as Rome was during its decline. We have come full circle. It took 2000 years to complete the circle, and a lot of good has been achieved. However, the Goths didn't solve the fundamental problem of government, and they won't this time around either unless they more fully adopt the golden rule embedded in Christian doctrine.
If they put hierarchy and loyalty above fairness and equality before the law, modern day Goths will simply recreate the feudal system that emerged during the middle ages. However, if the Goths fully embrace the golden rule, we'll see the emergence of the 5th Empire as outlined in my book. The Goths will continue to provide services on a private basis, and there will be no taxation or similar coercion that violates property rights or our right to self determination.
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