Many people (myself included) think this is the true nature and shape of the world. There are lots of layers, institutions, and policy built on top, but what matters is ultimately who holds the hammer and what do they want.

This isn't as cynical as it might sound. Most people ultimately hold some real-world power, and have organized into systems that help them get what they want. Anger a human enough and they will withhold work, anger them more and they will resort to violence. This is the basis of all society.