Just downloaded "The Social Conquest of Earth". Good call, the summary and reviews are verbal catnip.

Just based on Universe 25 and what I know of previous studies about the natural size of human groups, I think I might characterize the modern problems as "overpopulation of tribes". I think much of the discontent in the world today is being generated by friction between groups, not individuals. The original human(oid) tribes were widely separated and contact might have sometimes been viewed as a good thing (evolving into clan associations and yearly clan gatherings). But crammed together like rats in Universe 25, I'd expect tribes to react like rats.

I'm looking forward to reading Wilson's thoughts. Thanks, pod.