This paper argues that the views of Petty, Hamilton, and List, considered the "external threat" matter of countries a fundamental dimension of their economic development, and therefore thought national economies not only in terms of economic progress, but also as an instrument for political independence, military sovereignty and national security. Thus, the "external threat" is used to prioritize strategic objectives and direct the productive structure and the generation of income to certain sectors considered more relevant. Finally, it is argued that this conception is absent in Latin American thought and originates the discipline of International Political Economy.    JEL Classification: F59, F52, B12.