Why Diversity Has Historically Strengthened Military Power

Summary

The article argues that diversity is a military strength, not a weakness, contrary to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's claim that "diversity is not our strength." It traces this argument through military history, starting with the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars, showing how innovations in warfare required broader inclusion of soldiers regardless of class, background, or identity. The piece contends that modern militaries that exclude individuals on the basis of sex, color, class, or creed weaken themselves, and that embracing diversity has historically been a key factor in military effectiveness and state power.