A historian's comments on current events, foreign and domestic.
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Size of armies
I am posting these slides in connection with a discussion on the Fourth Turning forums. . . They show that the world's militaries are generally quite small by historical standards.
I hope, and trust, that this is not an effort to show that globalization, and free trade, have been a 'success' in reducing militarism generally;
or that, as a result of ostensibly reduced military spending (our spending has been huge however, regardless of size of army),
the future is smooth sailing, from here to eternity.....
Perhaps I misinterpret your point, in this graphic?
Perhaps one point is that all combatants will be weaker, as against all others? Granted, then.
I would concede that that is apparently true, at least at the moment, according to the received wisdom.
Gervazi's book, dated now, The Myth Of Soviet Military Supremacy, was a good antidote, it seemed, back then, to illusions, re spending versus 'size of armies', in my judgment.
Perhaps I can be corrected, on such an amateurish notion.
Professor:
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this succinct post.
I hope, and trust, that this is not an effort to show that globalization, and free trade, have been a 'success' in reducing militarism generally;
or that, as a result of ostensibly reduced military spending (our spending has been huge however, regardless of size of army),
the future is smooth sailing, from here to eternity.....
Perhaps I misinterpret your point, in this graphic?
Perhaps one point is that all combatants will be weaker, as against all others? Granted, then.
I would concede that that is apparently true, at least at the moment, according to the received wisdom.
Gervazi's book, dated now, The Myth Of Soviet Military Supremacy, was a good antidote, it seemed, back then, to illusions, re spending versus 'size of armies', in my judgment.
Perhaps I can be corrected, on such an amateurish notion.
All the best,
GM