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If you go by historical data, when nobody has a standing army everybody has mercenaries (which leads to instability at scale).
by Bayart 5y ago
If you go by historical data, when nobody has a standing army everybody has mercenaries (which leads to instability at scale).
- emidln 5y agoOr someone gets the bright idea of putting together an army and conquering their neighbors (who don't have a standing army and are relying on Mercenaries who keep a good feel on which way the wind is blowing (and who will have the money to pay them in the future)).
- amalcon 5y agoThe neighbors, not being stupid, notice this and build their own standing armies (or at least conscript militias). Which is why historically, the situation where there are no armies or militias is so rare: it's not a Nash equilibrium.