The Wealth of Nations · Chapter
I: Of the Expense of Defence explained
This chapter examines the sovereign's duty to protect society from external violence, focusing on how the expense of military force varies across different stages of societal development.
What happens
This chapter examines the sovereign's duty to protect society from external violence, focusing on how the expense of military force varies across different stages of societal development. Smith contrasts the minimal costs in hunter and shepherd societies with the substantial expenses in civilized nations, where the progress of manufactures and the art of war necessitate standing armies and public funding. He discusses the transition from militias to standing armies, the impact of firearms on warfare, and the economic implications of maintaining a military force.
Themes in this chapter
Role of Government
The sovereign's duty to provide for national defence is analyzed, with emphasis on how the state must adapt military funding and organization to the economic structure of society.
Historical Development of Society
Smith traces the evolution of military expense from hunter-gatherer and shepherd societies to civilized nations, linking economic progress to changes in warfare.
Division of Labor
The specialization of soldiers as a distinct trade in standing armies is contrasted with militias, illustrating the division of labor in military contexts.
Characters to notice
- Adam Smith
Author and narrator, analyzing the expense of defence across different societies.
- The Tartars
Example of shepherd society where every man is a warrior and the nation moves as an army.
- The Greeks
Referenced for their military practices, including citizen training and mercenary armies after the Persian wars.
- The Romans
Mentioned for their military evolution, including paid armies after the siege of Veii and the Campus Martius exercises.
- The Europeans
Modern European nations contrasted with ancient states in terms of military proportion and expense.
Key passages
“The first duty of the sovereign, that of protecting the society from the violence and invasion of other independent societies, can be performed only by means of a military force.”
The sovereign's primary responsibility is to defend the nation from external attacks, which requires a military.
Opening statement establishing the core theme of the chapter.
“Among nations of hunters, the lowest and rudest state of society, such as we find it among the native tribes of North America, every man is a warrior as well as a hunter.”
In the simplest societies, like Native American tribes, every man is both a hunter and a soldier.
Illustrates the minimal military expense in hunter societies.
“Among nations of shepherds, a more advanced state of society, such as we find it among the Tartars and Arabs, every man is, in the same manner, a warrior.”
In pastoral societies like the Tartars and Arabs, all men are also warriors.
Contrasts shepherd societies with hunters, noting their larger armies.
“The number of those who can go to war, in proportion to the whole number of the people, is necessarily much smaller in a civilized, than in a rude state of society.”
Civilized societies can field a smaller proportion of their population as soldiers compared to primitive societies.
Highlights the economic constraints on military size in advanced nations.
“Since the invention of firearms, strength and agility of body, or even extraordinary dexterity and skill in the use of arms, though they are far from being of no consequence, are, however, of less consequences.”
Firearms have reduced the importance of individual physical prowess and skill in battle.
Discusses the impact of gunpowder on warfare.
