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Technology and the Era of the Mass Army

Onorato, Massimiliano Gaetano and Scheve, Kenneth and Stasavage, David Technology and the Era of the Mass Army. Journal of Economic History, 74 (2). pp. 449-481. ISSN 0022-0507 (2014)

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Abstract

We investigate how technology has influenced the size of armies. During the nineteenth century, the development of the railroad made it possible to field and support mass armies, significantly increasing the observed size of military forces. During the late twentieth century, further advances in technology made it possible to deliver explosive force from a distance and with precision, making mass armies less desirable. We find support for our technological account using a new data set covering thirteen great powers between 1600 and 2000. We find little evidence that the French Revolution was a watershed in terms of levels of mobilization.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022050714000321
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Research Area: Economics and Institutional Change
Depositing User: Ms T. Iannizzi
Date Deposited: 26 Nov 2013 16:13
Last Modified: 12 Jun 2014 09:38
URI: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/id/eprint/1956

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