Standing Army Controversy

- Commerce and Constitution

Abstract

This paper clarifies the contexts of standing army controversy. Trenchard opposed standing army from the standpoint of republicanism. Defoe and Davenant defended standing army not only in opposing republicanism but also in their recognition of the threat of French power to England. Defoe, recognizing the military-technological revolution in the Modern, consent of parliament is adequate for guaranteeing a free constitution, but Davenant did not. In his struggle to adapt republicanism to the contemporary world situation, he eventually transformed the republicanism of farmer=warrior society to that of commercial society. Defoe also defended the commercial society but his was more monarchical.