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← The binding constraint on pre-modern campaigning was feeding the army…
17 connected korrents · 14 moments on record from 24 Jul 2020 to 7 Sept 2026.
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Europe Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: The binding constraint on pre-modern campaigning was feeding the army every day it was in the field, not winning the battle at the end of it. The binding constraint on pre-modern campaigning was feeding the army every day it was in the field, not winning the battle at the end of it. Last stated 4 years ago
15 Jul 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-07-15 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Before railways an army could not carry the food it needed: anything longer than a few days in the field forced it to live off the country it was in. — tap to centre the map on it Before railways an army could not carry the food it needed: anything longer than a few days in the field forced it to live off the country it was in. Last stated 4 years ago
15 Jul 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-07-15 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A large army is inherently impractical and inefficient: every extra soldier is another mouth to feed and one fewer worker making the tanks and shells. — tap to centre the map on it A large army is inherently impractical and inefficient: every extra soldier is another mouth to feed and one fewer worker making the tanks and shells. Last stated a year ago
24 May 2025
JH
James Holland — holds since 2025-05-24 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A pre-modern countryside produces an enormous amount of food and almost no extractable surplus, which is the hard limit on everything the state above it can do. — tap to centre the map on it A pre-modern countryside produces an enormous amount of food and almost no extractable surplus, which is the hard limit on everything the state above it can do. Last stated 6 years ago
24 Jul 2020
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2020-07-24 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Britain alone in Europe needed no large standing army, because a competent navy meant no army could ever reach its shores. — tap to centre the map on it Britain alone in Europe needed no large standing army, because a competent navy meant no army could ever reach its shores. Last stated 3 months ago
9 Jun 2026
SP
Sarah Paine — holds since 2026-06-09 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Whatever a state thinks it will gain by sending soldiers is inferior to what it would have got from sending diplomats and lawyers. — tap to centre the map on it Whatever a state thinks it will gain by sending soldiers is inferior to what it would have got from sending diplomats and lawyers. Last stated 3 months ago
9 Jun 2026
SP
Sarah Paine — holds since 2026-06-09 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Europeans have been under selection against body fat for 10,000 years because farming made the food supply steadier, not less stable. — tap to centre the map on it Europeans have been under selection against body fat for 10,000 years because farming made the food supply steadier, not less stable. Last stated 4 months ago
8 May 2026
DR
David Reich — holds since 2026-05-08 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Pre-modern subsistence farmers were minimising the risk of starvation rather than maximising output, and their apparently backward practices are rational once that is understood. — tap to centre the map on it Pre-modern subsistence farmers were minimising the risk of starvation rather than maximising output, and their apparently backward practices are rational once that is understood. Last stated 6 years ago
24 Jul 2020
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2020-07-24 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Generalship and bravery can move the Second World War by months, but it was a war of numbers, and past a certain point its outcome was already inevitable. — tap to centre the map on it Generalship and bravery can move the Second World War by months, but it was a war of numbers, and past a certain point its outcome was already inevitable. Last stated a year ago
24 May 2025
JH
James Holland — holds since 2025-05-24 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A Chinese crewed landing on the Moon before America returns would be a defeat for the free world. — tap to centre the map on it A Chinese crewed landing on the Moon before America returns would be a defeat for the free world. Last stated 3 weeks ago
18 Aug 2026
CH
Casey Handmer — holds since 2025-10-31 — tap for who they are
EB
Eric Berger — holds since 2026-08-18 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A country cannot fund its own industrial strategy and call the same policy cheating when China does it. — tap to centre the map on it A country cannot fund its own industrial strategy and call the same policy cheating when China does it. Last stated a year ago
15 May 2025
HR
Hannah Ritchie — holds since 2025-05-15 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A few square miles at the Moon's south pole are the only lunar real estate that matters, and whoever gets there first sets the terms. — tap to centre the map on it A few square miles at the Moon's south pole are the only lunar real estate that matters, and whoever gets there first sets the terms. Last stated 3 weeks ago
18 Aug 2026
EB
Eric Berger — holds since 2026-08-18 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A country cannot have radical technological breakthroughs and also refuse to tolerate uncomfortably rich people, because the financial system it resents is what funds the innovation. — tap to centre the map on it A country cannot have radical technological breakthroughs and also refuse to tolerate uncomfortably rich people, because the financial system it resents is what funds the innovation. Last stated a year ago
13 Aug 2025
KJ
Keyu Jin — holds since 2025-08-13 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A country's large trade deficit in manufactured goods reduces its manufacturing employment below what it would be with balanced trade. — tap to centre the map on it A country's large trade deficit in manufactured goods reduces its manufacturing employment below what it would be with balanced trade. Last stated today
7 Sept 2026
PK
Paul Krugman — holds since 2026-09-07 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A large, sustained AI capability lead by either the US or China could shift the global balance of power between them. — tap to centre the map on it A large, sustained AI capability lead by either the US or China could shift the global balance of power between them. Last stated 2 days ago
5 Sept 2026
NS
Noah Smith — holds since 2026-09-05 — tap for who they are
Same subject: 'As long as it takes' lacks urgency, and it is a formula available to Ukraine's allies precisely because they are not the ones doing the fighting. — tap to centre the map on it 'As long as it takes' lacks urgency, and it is a formula available to Ukraine's allies precisely because they are not the ones doing the fighting. Last stated 11 months ago
10 Oct 2025
LF
Lawrence Freedman — holds since 2025-10-10 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A ceasefire along the current lines would end the killing and still leave a long-term settlement between Russia and Ukraine possible. — tap to centre the map on it A ceasefire along the current lines would end the killing and still leave a long-term settlement between Russia and Ukraine possible. Last stated 2 weeks ago
26 Aug 2026
BM
Branko Milanovic — holds since 2026-08-26 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A military that disconnects its orders from the law and from legal advice has no limit on what it will do when commanded. — tap to centre the map on it A military that disconnects its orders from the law and from legal advice has no limit on what it will do when commanded. Last stated 2 weeks ago
27 Aug 2026
SG
Scott Greenfield — holds since 2026-08-27 — tap for who they are
At the centre
The binding constraint on pre-modern campaigning was feeding the army every day it was in the field, not winning the battle at the end of it.
Holds BD Bret DevereauxRead this korrent →
Before railways an army could not carry the food it needed: anything longer than a few days in the field forced it to live off the country it was in.
Holds BD Bret Devereaux
A large army is inherently impractical and inefficient: every extra soldier is another mouth to feed and one fewer worker making the tanks and shells.
Holds JH James Holland
A pre-modern countryside produces an enormous amount of food and almost no extractable surplus, which is the hard limit on everything the state above it can do.
Holds BD Bret Devereaux
Britain alone in Europe needed no large standing army, because a competent navy meant no army could ever reach its shores.
Holds SP Sarah Paine
Whatever a state thinks it will gain by sending soldiers is inferior to what it would have got from sending diplomats and lawyers.
Holds SP Sarah Paine
Europeans have been under selection against body fat for 10,000 years because farming made the food supply steadier, not less stable.
Holds DR David Reich
Pre-modern subsistence farmers were minimising the risk of starvation rather than maximising output, and their apparently backward practices are rational once that is understood.
Holds BD Bret Devereaux
Generalship and bravery can move the Second World War by months, but it was a war of numbers, and past a certain point its outcome was already inevitable.
Holds JH James Holland
A Chinese crewed landing on the Moon before America returns would be a defeat for the free world.
Holds CH Casey HandmerEB Eric Berger
A country cannot fund its own industrial strategy and call the same policy cheating when China does it.
Holds HR Hannah Ritchie
A few square miles at the Moon's south pole are the only lunar real estate that matters, and whoever gets there first sets the terms.
Holds EB Eric Berger
A country cannot have radical technological breakthroughs and also refuse to tolerate uncomfortably rich people, because the financial system it resents is what funds the innovation.
Holds KJ Keyu Jin
A country's large trade deficit in manufactured goods reduces its manufacturing employment below what it would be with balanced trade.
Holds PK Paul Krugman
A large, sustained AI capability lead by either the US or China could shift the global balance of power between them.
Holds
'As long as it takes' lacks urgency, and it is a formula available to Ukraine's allies precisely because they are not the ones doing the fighting.
Holds LF Lawrence Freedman
A ceasefire along the current lines would end the killing and still leave a long-term settlement between Russia and Ukraine possible.
Holds BM Branko Milanovic
A military that disconnects its orders from the law and from legal advice has no limit on what it will do when commanded.
Holds SG Scott Greenfield