A great lesson in socio-economics in a 'low law' environment

Have a read of Van Diemens Land by James Boyce.

The interactions between Convicts, sealers, ex-convicts, free settlers, bush-rangers, Aboriginal groups, soldiers, officers and the ruling elite during the early history of Tasmania are very instructional and as applicable in tomorrows post-SHTF world as they were in 1800's.  It was a land of plenty which a few sought to turn into a situation of false scarcity and privation.  Ironically most people were doing well when bushrangers nearly had control of the colony!  

The techniques of disposession, abuse of power, privilege, 'command and control' legislation made up on-the-run, divide and rule, balance of power, deception, blackmail etc are all really well showcased.  The same themes are evident in many other books about conquest, occupation and times of trauma (eg USSR, Yugoslavia wars of the 90's, Pre and post colonial africa, the european conquest on the Americas) but this is a really well written and thought out history book with lots of snippets of individuals stories and struggles.

Understanding how socio-economics, privilege, and abuse of the law will be (and is being) applied to you in the future world of austerity is a vital thing.  Being left alone to prosper on your dream bit of land, that you own debt free (which is my particular circumstance), may likely not be a viable future option.