In a famine.. the man who believes in a ordered hierarchical society with laws are worthless. Family clans and crooks is what survived. Example: Africa, or the collapse of the ussr
Who's talking about laws? I am talking about reputations. Men who lack the respect of others get kicked out of their family klans, among other things. And while a few crooks may rise to the top (USSR), most get beaten to death by angry mobs.