It is important to remember that there was no such thing as 'countrys' in middle-earth. it is more like the medival Europe - many city-states and small kingdoms, but all just in the shadows of the former Rome. Tolkien's world is almost post-apocalyptic (sp?) in a way, since most of the glory and splendor was forgotten and the reaming people was just struggling for existence. Therefore, both men, dwarves, elves and even hobbits were scattered around the lands, having no king or anything. Even the orcs was just tribes with their own rulers, just like the the elves. However, each of these city-states had their own customs and their own laws, so in a sence they were kingdoms consisting of only one state or city. The people of Middle-Earth felt united because of personal relationships, history and races, not some stupid borders drawn on a map ebacuse of taxes etc. Dwarves are dwarves, and they would understand eacother better than they understand elves, even though one live in the remains of Moria and the other in Fornost.
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