The debate on the need to equip the State with a solid and real defense finds an extraordinary conceptual connection when comparing the philosophical-political reflections on ethical realism and the warnings expressed by the leaders of the Italian Army, primarily the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Carmine Masiello. On one hand, Mancuso's analysis published in La Stampa demolishes the utopia of unilateral disarmament by recalling the inescapable harshness of history, while on the other, Masiello's positions translate this awareness into strictly operational, technological, and institutional terms, reiterating that a nation's credibility is founded solely on its real deterrence capability.
The End of the Pacifist Illusion and the Necessity of Strength
The central thesis expressed in Vito Mancuso's editorial identifies the equation between moral values and the real situation as the only possible basis for a responsible ethic. Considering war as an alien or outdated occurrence represents a fatal error: the State has the primary duty not to expose citizens to the risk of being "devoured" in a global context where more than half of the nations are affected by conflicts.
This mirrored vision is punctually found in General Masiello's warnings about the end of the peace illusion that characterized the post-Cold War period. In his analysis, Masiello has repeatedly highlighted how stability is not a permanent or guaranteed condition, but a good to be preserved through constant preparation. A nation's defense cannot be reduced to a rhetorical exercise or statements of principle: it requires a military structure that is ready, trained, and structurally equipped to face the high-intensity multi-domain scenarios of the 21st century.
"Disarmament, carried out unilaterally, leads to being devoured. For the love of peace, someone might even consider this end for themselves, but it is not permissible for the State to risk its citizens being "devoured"; its first duty is exactly the opposite."
Deterrence, Operational Credibility, and Technological Modernization
In Masiello's thinking, the concept of "credible defense" is based on fundamental pillars that perfectly dialogue with geopolitical realism: technological versatility, digitalization, and the centrality of the human factor. An armed force is credible not when it proclaims abstract pacifist intentions, but when it possesses tangible technological deterrence — from the pervasive integration of drones as a basic equipment to the resilience of command and control infrastructures.
As evidenced by the experience of traditionally neutral European nations like Sweden, which today are rearming and integrating into NATO to protect their freedom, military strength does not negate diplomacy, but constitutes its indispensable negotiating counterbalance. Without a solid defense capability, a State's voice loses authority at international tables. Masiello insists precisely on the regeneration of the operational component and the modernization of support forces, so that the Italian Army is not just a crisis management tool, but an absolute guarantee of national security.
Conclusions: Armed Peace as the Guardian of Freedom
Ultimately, Mancuso's call for the necessity of an "armed peace and, precisely for this reason, disarming" (in the sense of neutralizing threats) finds full practical implementation in the renewal doctrine promoted by military leaders. Cultivating the ideal utopia of peace remains an essential moral duty, but governing a nation requires the courage of realism. Only an Italy equipped with a credible, technologically advanced defense firmly anchored to institutional values can effectively protect its citizens and contribute authoritatively to international stability.
Reference Sources:
- Vito Mancuso, "Why Strength is Also Needed to Save Peace in the World", editorial published in La Stampa, July 22, 2026
- The Vision of the Chief of Staff of the Army – March 2025 Gen.C.A. Carmine Masiello
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