Well, question is, are we really more complicated than animals when it comes to basics ? Maybe it's just outer shell that makes it seems so?
What I'm also saying is that there is no "alpha", "beta" or whatever and never been. There is just role that you are accepting and they come with different shapes and sizes - so happened that hierarchy often comes with similar needs and we get similar behaviors on certain levels.
Also, saying that because we are too socially complex we can't define "alpha" is also untrue - we could if we consider that role of one human being differs among those circles - we can't define it because in the shape that it is defined now it does not take that differences within one being into account (someone could be alpha in situation X, but not alpha in Y and so on).
"I think we all can agree on the fact that once the leaders become decadent and stuff themselves with luxuries while the folk suffers, this can be what produces revolutions like the French ones against the aristocrats."
I don't think folk need to suffer - resentment, jealousy is not necessary a suffering and still produces similar outcome. Let's go with modern example though: how do you feel about bankers getting fat bonuses for layoffs?
About the last part: Do we really face more complexity or we just exchanged one type into another ? I also do wonder what will be, but the thing is, world doesn't care and just go on :)