What is the most effective way for a ruler to maintain order?

A good leader must both be just and merciful, as to maintain order, but to be fair and kind in doing so. A tyrant, with unfair laws or customs, will eventually be rebelled against, or loose grip over his or her realm, such as Caesar, who in fact died for his dictatorship. On the other hand, if a leader does not uphold the laws, or does just what people want as apposed to what they need, chaos would ensue, with people breaking laws because they need not fear the consequences. A good leader has to be able to make his or her own decisions while taking into account the needs and desires of his or her people. He or she must be honest and fair, and must have the support of his or her people, because a leader can't do anything without a following. A good leader must appeal to the good side of human nature, and channel the bad into productive practices. A good leader must be just, and always fair, as well as being an inspiration to his or her people.

Jared Diamond's Thesis

I agree with Jared Diamond's thesis that geography is key to development because it makes sense, and he has strong historical detail to back it up with. Everything we know from that long ago is merely a bunch of educated guesses based on what little evidence we have. That is not to say that they aren't true, merely that we cannot know for sure, and so we must make the best guesses we can. Diamond makes many guesses, but they make sense, and the conclusion he gets out of them (that geography is the deciding factor) is the logical conclusion. It seems to me that, knowing all we know now, Diamond's conclusion is accurate, or at least as accurate as we can get.