Both countries are leaders for peace in the fact that they have disbanded their armies for the primary fact that they have disbanded their standing armies. Costa Rica maintains a police force for policing reasons and internal security and Iceland maintains a Coast Guard and police force. Japan only maintains a peacekeeping force but no official army (though this is due to a treaty from World War 2). Other countries who have disbanded their armies (some more successfully than others) are Dominica and Grenada (Grenada was another by force). Other countries also have no standing army but these are generally from lack of need (Vatican City), never having formed one (Andorra), or other less clear reasons. So do you think that this is a good idea? Costa Rica leads a couple of peacekeeping councils and a University of Peace that is UN funded in their country. Is it the world's countries slowly disbanding their armies that is going to help with bringing peace or is this naivety on these countries' parts? As far as first world superpowers, wouldn't the slow and controlled disbandment of the world's countries' armies make sure no country gets an advantage from it? Similar to how Russia and the US ended the Cold War by destroying nuclear weapons supplies a little bit at a time. Would this work or is it impossible?
Military - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Sure, but those who beat their swords into plowshares should expect that eventually they'll find themselves plowing for those who don't.
2 :
With the exception of Iceland all countries listed have a defense pact with other countries so they dont need an Army. Japan hasnt had a military because the U.S. has provided its defense following WW2. Thats why we have military bases there. Also Coasta Rica has a defense pact with the U.S. Vatican doesnt have its own military because it is an enclave of Italy and also the Swiss army protects Vatican city.(ever see the soldiers with colorful uniforms)
3 :
I wish it were possible. Small countries like Iceland or Costa Rica can aafford to disband thier military, because if a threat did arise, other nations WITH a strong military will ensure thier security. Any country that would threaten Iceland would also be a threat to the great powers in western europe and to north america.
4 :
Those countries only did it because the know good ole Uncle Sam will protect them. We tried disarmament in the 20s and 30s, look how well that turned out. It only encouraged Germany and Japan. If the good people disarm, it doesn't mean the bad ones will. To live in peace, one must prepare for war.
5 :
Most European countries (EU) don't have a real standing army. There are a small number of uniformed personnel but not a true army that can fight a full scale war. For instance if Russia attacked Germany or the Czech Republic there would be little or no resistance. They depend on the US to defend them thus they can spend much more of their GDP on social services. So yes I think we should pull out of as much of the world as we can. Defending only what would benefit the US! Think of who get the oil that cones through the Straights of Hormuz or the Suez canal? Japan and Europe would grind to a halt in 3 days. We have enough domestic oil why are we protecting that resource? I know it would effect the world economies but why does the Europeans not contribute, China or Japan?
6 :
First: not sure where this continuing idea that Japan does not have an Army, or military, comes from. Since the early 1950s, when the Japanese upgraded their internal defense force to the Japanese Self Defense Force, and is now an actual Ministry in their government, the Japanese very much have an Army, Navy, and Air Force. Just because they don't use traditional names (which is changing), if you look at a Japanese Armored Brigade in the field, there is no doubt it is an Army unit. Go and google this issue, and you will see that the Japanese very much have a military - and one that has deployed forces to Iraq, Afghanistan, and to fight pirates in the Indian Ocean. Second: the Costa Ricans like to woof up that they don't have an Army; however, go look at the table of organization and equipment, and the order of battle of the Costa Rican national police force - it looks real close to a small, lightly equipped Army. They would not stand a real chance against a traditional Army invading, but they smell an awfully lot like an Army. Third: the Cold War was NOT ended by the US and the Soviet Union lowering their respective nuclear stockpiles. It essentially ended because the West outspent the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, and drove them into the economic graveyard. The Communists basically threw in the proverbial towel after being unable to keep up and their own populations saying enough was enough. It is indeed naivete to think that disbanding militaries would increase the peace. History has shown that if you have something of value, someone else will want to take that away from you. It is the same at the local level, and why we need laws and policing, and it is applicable at the international level, and why we need militaries. Those countries that have done away with their militaries, or have never had one to begin with, are those countries that don't really have anything that anyone else wants.
