What is the ideal size of a society? There are so many criteria that could define an ideal size. Is it one in which every member serves a unique role? Is self-sufficiency a requirement? If so, then is this "ideal" status lost as the population grows?

I'm not trying to advocate a return to tribalism, but I would argue that crime and unemployment are evidence of a society that has grown too large (though crime has more or less always existed), as an ideal population would theoretically employ every member and eliminate the need for crime. Assuming that this "ideal" size is rather small, does this make direct democracy a more viable form of government? Early societies had small populations, at least compared to modern cities/areas of governance, and yet they tended to rely upon a fairly vertical structure of government with authoritative leaders. Does this mean that in a society where every member has a role, the population would rather shift the role of governing to a small group of people than operate democratically?

Perhaps I am getting too far ahead of myself by asking all of these questions, but without shifting the discussion towards politics, the recent European Union elections somewhat inspired this train of thought. There seems to be a panic among some media outlets because the people democratically elected right-wing figures who want to limit immigration and foreign influence in the EU. Hopefully this isn't too wide of a topic, but it would be nice to have some discussion on this board.