The Folly of Empire and the Science of Peace

Abstract

This paper provides a critical analysis of public good justification for national defense and empire. Social scientists have made a serious error in taking the public goods approach because they have drained economics from the exercise. Liberals who have embraced the Samuelsonian logic as the premise for liberal empire have likewise made a serious error because this approach over-emphasizes the goods generated by empire while neglecting the significant bads. Further, in presenting the state as the source of domestic and international order through its military might, liberals have given up the game in terms of offering strong arguments against imperialism and militarism. This contributes to the persistence of the myth that imperialism and militarism are natural outgrowths of liberalism and capitalism. I present five challenges to the widely accepted view of government-provided defense and empire. I then discuss how we can constructively advance liberalism and peace.

Keywords: defense, empire, liberalism, peace, public goods

JEL Classification: D70, H41, H56