If I may offer up some more unsolicited advice, it seems that you actually have a pretty good opening here, although perhaps not what you originally thought. Although most people are saying that this topic has been done already, they are all pointing to different traditions. I brought up the considerations from an IR perspective, but I am seeing references to (I believe) anthropology, and comparative politics. If you could just sync up those different views you would have a great paper. If you synced them and clarify them, you would be even better.