__________________
As for AI the most effective work around to this problem so far is to simply use an American instead, they tend to put up a bit more of a fight than your average Artificial Idiot. ... James McGuigan on rec.games.computer.stars somewhen back in 1998 ...
I started to write an answer but was interrupted. I have an explanation I think.
Several plopps move into province 4. One settles and increases dominion there. A couple travel into province 5 and one into province 7. Now enemy plopps move into province 4 and 5 and retakes the provinces. All this happens during one turn. Province 7 is farther away from the enemy capital and survives longer than 4 and 5.
I have no idea in wich order plopps from different provinces and nations travel.