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

The author argues that in an interconnected, industrial age, the expected gains of military conquest are largely illusory because commerce, finance, and mutual dependence make territorial conquest economically costly and politically self-defeating. He supports this claim with economic analysis, critiques of popular beliefs about national advantage, and psychological and moral reflections on why nations pursue war. Historical episodes and contemporary conflicts are examined to test the argument, and practical conclusions propose rethinking armaments, defence policy, and the cultivation of public opinion to reduce the likelihood of destructive warfare.