The Great Illusion A Study of the Relation of Military Power to National Advantage

"The Great Illusion" by Norman Angell is a scholarly exploration from the early 1900s dissecting the presumed link between a country's military muscle and its overall success. It pushes back against the widely held idea that a powerful army and navy automatically lead to a richer and safer nation. Angell suggests that conquering another country doesn't automatically mean the winner gets richer, as the economic connections and financial systems of the modern world make old ideas about war and trade outdated. The book kicks off by questioning the basic assumptions of international relations at the time, especially the notion that military strength is a must-have for a country to thrive. Angell argues that equating conquest with actual profit doesn't hold up under scrutiny due to today's integrated economies. By combining a look at what was happening then with the realities of global finance, he paves the way for a thorough examination of how countries can approach war differently. This challenges the perceived need for military might to protect national interests and promotes a rethinking of political and economic strategies in a changing world.