The term "Military-Industrial Complex" as we know it today was first coined by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower [1]. It is used to define the relationship between a country's military and defence industries for mutual benefit - one side obtains the weapons, and the other side gets paid for providing them. Eisenhower warned the world about the growing influence of this alliance and the ways it could coerce public policy and uphold a state of perpetual war. Today, decades later, we can see the influence of the military-industrial complex (MIC) continues to thrive, constantly changing the course of global conflicts for its benefit.
Source: whitehouse.gov //Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Initiation and Heritage
The beginning of the military-industrial complex occurred in the early 20th century, hand in hand with the technological advancements in warfare overall. In the World War era, governments relied heavily on the growing industrial production for their weapon supply, along with innovation in the field to gain an edge over other countries. Due to the high and complex demand for weapons, various defence contractors earned large amounts of income, which meant that they gained tremendous influence over government bodies. This made the military industry a cornerstone in every participating country’s economy, especially the United States. After World War 2, the period of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union solidified the power and stature of the Military-industrial complex.
Source: The Atlantic //Military technology during World War 1
Economic Implications
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the total world expenditure on military expenses was approximately 2.240 trillion US dollars[2]. Just for reference, the global gross domestic product adds up to around 95 trillion US dollars[3], which means that around 2.2 percent of the world’s combined GDP was spent on military-related research. 39 percent of all military expenses (close to 850 billion)[2] was spent by the US alone, proving the US to have the largest Military-Industrial complex.
The Military-Industrial complex functions on the economic interests of various defence contractors. These contractors work under government contracts, and that is their largest source of income. This is their motive to instigate conflict, as it keeps their income flowing. The military, in turn, expects these contractors to constantly innovate and advance the technology used. Military spending also stimulates job growth and drives economic activity, but it comes at the cost of perpetuating conflict over peace.
Source: sipri.org
Use of Power for Perpetual Profits
The Military-Industrial complex leverages the power they gained during times of war in two ways: shaping policies and securing further, more lucrative contracts. The contracts provide this industry security in the future, and the influence is used to persuade the public into believing in the necessity of the prosperity of such industries in the country. These contractors employ a large number of experts in the departments of law and public opinion to protect themselves, their image, and their interests. The influence of the Military-industrial complex does not end within the country either. It also plays a major role in foreign politics. These defence contractors influence governments to partake in international arms trade, which causes tensions and stokes conflicts in conflicted regions.
These defence contractors earn an immense amount of profits from the perpetual war that they propagate, which is immoral considering such profits usually come at the cost of human lives. The military-industrial complex raises many humanitarian issues due to this reason. These profits being made disregarding the well-being of innocent civilians show the overall inhumane nature of this industry and are one of the largest barriers that keep us from achieving world peace.
Source: Britannica.com // Defence contract being signed
Addressing the Problem
Addressing the influence of the Military-Industrial complex is a difficult task due to the stronghold these contractors have in every country’s economy today. The only way it can be done is through a multi-faceted approach that reconstructs certain political, economic, and social aspects of today’s world. One approach could be to reconstruct the laws such that the influence of money in politics gets minimised. Another way could be to start investing in other industries that are more beneficial to the population and prop up sustainable economic development for the country. Resources spent on acquiring arms from defence contractors can be reduced, and the residual resources can be used for industries such as healthcare or education. These steps will show that at least the governments are willing to prioritise the well-being of their residents over their hunger for power and global status.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Military-Industrial Complex has a deep-rooted influence on today’s major world decisions, and it continues to use the acquired power for its own benefit. There is very mild consideration made by the MIC for civilian lives, and it has never deterred them from making large amounts of money. Overcoming the power of the Military-Industrial Complex will not be easy and requires large amounts of change in every country’s budget allocation as well as international laws and treaties to prohibit excess expenditure on military-related fields. Reallocating large portions of the military budget to industries that directly benefit civilians will help boost the economy of the country as well as improve civilian lives. I believe that the world spends much more on conflicts than what is required, and a collective effort to change this will bring us closer to world peace.
Article by,
Maitreya Tiwary
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