War, the Military Revolution(s) Controversy, and Army Expansion
William R. Thompson|Karen Rasler
One school of thought on European state making argues that discontinuous change in weapons and tactics led to the expansion armies, and, therefore, states. Others argue decision makers expanded organizations make war for its own sake, not simply because tools changed. Although this controversy is easily resolved, empirical evidence indicates major expansions army sizes over past 500 years were almost exclusively related wars fought regional global primacy. Moreover, leaders expanding armies usually states aspiring hegemony their principal opponent. This buttresses argument drawing a direct relationship between making—instead emphasizing an indirect weapons/tactics size.
Comparative Political Studies