---
entity_slug: militia
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:52:52.927092'
overall_score: 4.0
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: 'The definition clearly distinguishes militia from standing armies through
    specific characteristics: part-time service, civilian occupations maintained,
    self-funded subsistence, and periodic training. The definition is precise and
    non-circular, capturing a distinct military organizational form.'
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's discussion of military organization
    in Book V, Chapter 1, where he explicitly contrasts militia with standing armies
    as two fundamental approaches to public defense. The characteristics described
    align closely with Smith's analysis of how militias function in different stages
    of societal development.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"Regulation" is appropriate as militia represents a regulatory mechanism
    for public defense, one of the essential functions of government that Smith discusses.
    However, it could also fit under a "Public Goods" or "Defense" domain, though
    regulation captures the institutional aspect well.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Militia maps reasonably to S1 (primary operations) as it represents an
    operational capability for defense, but it also has S3 elements as a regulatory
    mechanism for maintaining social order. The mapping is not as clear-cut as some
    other entities, making it moderately VSM-relevant.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity illuminates an important structural mechanism in Smith's
    analysis of how societies organize defense functions, particularly the trade-offs
    between citizen-soldiers and professional armies. It reveals underlying economic
    principles about how military capability relates to economic development and state
    capacity.
---

# Evaluation: Militia

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes militia from standing armies through specific characteristics: part-time service, civilian occupations maintained, self-funded subsistence, and periodic training. The definition is precise and non-circular, capturing a distinct military organizational form.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's discussion of military organization in Book V, Chapter 1, where he explicitly contrasts militia with standing armies as two fundamental approaches to public defense. The characteristics described align closely with Smith's analysis of how militias function in different stages of societal development.

## domain_placement — 4.0 / 5.0

"Regulation" is appropriate as militia represents a regulatory mechanism for public defense, one of the essential functions of government that Smith discusses. However, it could also fit under a "Public Goods" or "Defense" domain, though regulation captures the institutional aspect well.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

Militia maps reasonably to S1 (primary operations) as it represents an operational capability for defense, but it also has S3 elements as a regulatory mechanism for maintaining social order. The mapping is not as clear-cut as some other entities, making it moderately VSM-relevant.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity illuminates an important structural mechanism in Smith's analysis of how societies organize defense functions, particularly the trade-offs between citizen-soldiers and professional armies. It reveals underlying economic principles about how military capability relates to economic development and state capacity.
