Argument Quote by James Burnham
“Armaments do not, generally speaking, cause wars. This notion, the logical crux of all arguments in favor of disarmament, turns the causal relationship upside down. Actually, it is wars, or conflicts threatening war, that cause armaments, not the reverse.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Myth of the Rational Voter, 1967
Wars drive armament production, not the other way around.
In simple terms: Wars cause weapons, not weapons cause wars.
Key Takeaway
Recognize conflict as the root of armament.
Themes
war
armament
causality
policy
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- defense budgeting
- peace negotiations
- military strategy
Key Concepts
political theory
economics
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies address the root causes of war?
- Can arms control succeed without conflict resolution?
A Different Perspective
Disarmament may ignore underlying conflict causes.
![“[Standing armies] constantly threaten other nations with war by giving the appearance that they are prepared for it, which goads nations into competing with one another in the number of men under arms, and this practice knows no bounds. And since the costs related to maintaining peace will in this…” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f93/immanuel-kant-532_war_standing-armies-constantly-threaten-othe_1996298.jpg)
