What is the 'Great Illusion' which Norman Angell wishes to explode? In few - and therefore insufficient - words, it is this: war is a quite inadequate method for solving international disputes; war does not carry any advantage, not even to the victors, least of all any economic advantage.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The Great Illusion is that war solves disputes or brings economic benefit, which Angell argues is false even for victors.
- In plain terms
- People wrongly believe war helps solve problems or makes money, but it does not help anyone.
- What can you take from it?
- War is an ineffective and costly method for resolving international disputes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do nations still choose war?
- How does the illusion of war persist?
Another view
Victors may perceive political advantages despite economic loss.
More from Norman Angell
In 1909, he published a little book of some hundred pages, Europe's Optical Illusion, and he awoke one morning to find himself famous.
Permalink to quote #46 The Great Illusion in its turn created certain illusions in those who read the book superficially (or who only heard about it). Because Norman Angell had prove…
Permalink to quote #48 Angell argued that in a modern economy no economic benefit could be generated even by successful wars of conquest... Angell's argument showed, beyond reasonabl…
Permalink to quote #45
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