&gt; I wonder if the advantages of a democracy - political stability and a (usually) advanced economy - also translate into the modern battlefield.<p>There are many, many, many examples throughout history of this happening. In WWII, the British kept the European theatre alive until the Americans finally showed up. I learned in a Quora thread that opposing soldiers thought the British incredibly disciplined and reliable, while the Americans were absolutely nuts, making up in sheer bravado what they lacked in training.<p>People will fight very, very hard to save their political system when they are personally invested in it.<p>In the French Revolutionary wars, the generals led from the <i>front</i> of the army. Absolutely fearless, total badasses, fighting for the glory of the French Republic. Things changed of course after Napoleon grabbed the brass ring, but Napoleon did not make the army himself, it was the efforts of his revolutionary predecessors that forged the army that Napoleon commanded.<p>Strongly democratic nations enjoy virtual invulnerability in battle, particularly when defending.<p>The political stability is important when creating a national army that could conceivably be usurped by internal threats. The economy is essential for that oft-overlooked aspect of conducting a war, managing the supply train. Unless you&#x27;re the Mongols, everything you use to wage war has to be maintained, and fed. Democratic countries simply do this better than autocratic ones.