Germany in 1939 could look stronger than Britain when judged by conspicuous armed force, yet Britain's empire, capabilities, and national unity changed the real balance. Military parades and televised exercises show equipment and discipline, but they can be carefully staged. They also reveal little about corruption inside the armed forces. Strength therefore depends on national qualities that are harder to see than weapons and formations.
Chapter · 0:22-2:18
National strength beyond military appearance
The maxim associated with the Melian Dialogue becomes a question about what actually makes a state strong. Visible military scale can give a misleading answer.