All this forum PVP makes for a interesting read...
I think it's important to note that without proper diplomatic mechanics in game, no person or group of people speaks for a entire nation. We do not have nations. What we have is anarchy. Different clans, with different goals, different strategies across all nations.
The nation that can unify its player base towards a single goal and strategy will have the advantage. Of course there's the whole numbers advantage, but that is a separate discussion