Coalition Defense
CEOs with board support last 3× longer than those without.
Tolerant alphas last 4× longer than despotic ones. Hierarchies maintained by coalition support are self-stabilizing; those maintained by suppression require constant energy input.
Coalition defense is the most important stability factor in hierarchies. In baboon troops studied over 40 years by Sapolsky: Alpha males with 2+ strong allies retain rank >4 years (87% success rate). Alpha males without allies retain rank >4 years only 23% of the time. Coalitions make challenging alpha too costly.
Tolerant alphas (who allow subordinate mating and share food) average 12-year tenure. Despotic alphas (who monopolize everything) average only 2.5-year tenure. Stability comes through coalitional support, not suppression.
Business Application of Coalition Defense
CEOs with board support last 3× longer than those without. Executive teams with clear #2 succession plans are 4× less likely to experience palace coups. Hierarchies stabilize when next-in-line knows they'll eventually inherit rank, not need to seize it. Legitimate hierarchies don't fight to maintain themselves; illegitimate ones do.