I just thought of something that would be great to include in civ3,
unions, the EU, NATO, UN etc. Of course not with these names but you would create your own and include different civs and make rules and vote to pass them. This could make it easier to tilt the power balance from the strongest to the weak but cooperating civs. Of course there has to be some downsides to this but you'll have to tell me about them
Kind of....but it wouldnt rise and fall with 1 or 2 members but work as a way of working towards common goals and having an agenda that would be decided by the members.