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Military Inc.: Unpacking the Complexities of the Military-Industrial Complex
Introduction:
The term "Military-Industrial Complex" (MIC) conjures images of powerful corporations profiting from war and influencing government policy. But what exactly is the MIC, and how does it operate? This in-depth exploration delves into the intricate web of relationships between governments, military forces, and private defense contractors, examining its history, influence, and ethical considerations. We'll uncover the often-opaque mechanisms driving military spending, explore the potential for conflicts of interest, and analyze the impact on national security and global stability. Prepare for a comprehensive understanding of this powerful and often controversial force shaping our world.
I. Defining the Military-Industrial Complex: More Than Just Profits
The Military-Industrial Complex isn't simply a collection of companies selling weapons. It represents a symbiotic relationship where government funding fuels the growth of defense contractors, who, in turn, lobby for increased military spending and influence policy decisions that benefit their bottom line. This cyclical relationship creates a powerful force that can significantly impact a nation's economic and foreign policy. The "inc" in "Military Inc." highlights this corporate influence and the inherent profit motive at the heart of this complex system.
II. A Historical Perspective: Tracing the Evolution of the MIC
The roots of the modern MIC can be traced back to World War II, when massive government spending on war materials spurred the growth of powerful defense industries. Post-war, the Cold War fueled continued expansion, with a constant arms race driving innovation and production. The development of nuclear weapons further solidified the power of the MIC, creating a powerful lobby with vested interests in maintaining high levels of military spending. This historical context is crucial to understanding the enduring influence of the MIC today. The post-Cold War era saw a shift, with a focus on counter-terrorism and global interventions sustaining demand for military technology and services.
III. The Players Involved: Government, Military, and Private Contractors
Understanding the MIC requires identifying its key players. Governments provide the funding and set the priorities through defense budgets and procurement processes. The military acts as the primary consumer, dictating the types of weapons and technology needed. Private defense contractors, ranging from multinational corporations to smaller specialized firms, design, manufacture, and supply these products and services. The interactions between these three entities are complex and often opaque, making it difficult to track the flow of funds and influence.
IV. The Influence of Lobbying and Political Contributions:
Defense contractors employ powerful lobbying firms to influence legislative decisions regarding defense spending and procurement contracts. Political contributions and campaign donations further solidify these connections, creating a system where significant financial interests are at stake. This lobbying effort isn't always transparent and often raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and undue influence on government policy.
V. Ethical Considerations and the Cost of Military Spending:
The massive sums spent on defense have significant ethical implications. The opportunity costs of military spending – the potential benefits that are forgone by investing in other sectors like healthcare, education, or infrastructure – are substantial. Furthermore, the production and use of military technology raise ethical concerns about the potential for civilian casualties, environmental damage, and the proliferation of weapons.
VI. The Global Impact: International Arms Sales and Geopolitical Influence
The MIC extends its reach far beyond national borders. International arms sales constitute a significant portion of the revenue for many defense contractors, influencing geopolitical relationships and contributing to regional conflicts. The sale of advanced weaponry can destabilize regions and exacerbate existing tensions, creating a complex web of international implications.
VII. Transparency and Accountability: Addressing Concerns about the MIC
The lack of transparency in defense contracting and procurement processes fuels skepticism and concerns about potential corruption and waste. Efforts towards increased transparency and accountability are crucial for ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and that the MIC does not unduly influence national security policy. This involves strengthening oversight mechanisms, implementing stricter regulations, and promoting greater public awareness.
VIII. The Future of the Military-Industrial Complex: Adapting to Change
The MIC is continuously evolving, adapting to technological advancements and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The rise of cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, and autonomous weapons systems presents new challenges and opportunities for defense contractors. Understanding these trends is essential for predicting the future of the MIC and for developing effective strategies to manage its influence.
IX. Conclusion: Navigating the Complexities of Military Inc.
The Military-Industrial Complex is a powerful and multifaceted system with profound implications for national security, economic development, and global stability. While it plays a vital role in providing for a nation's defense, understanding its complexities, potential pitfalls, and ethical dimensions is crucial for responsible governance and informed public discourse. Ongoing scrutiny, transparency, and robust oversight are essential for ensuring the responsible use of resources and the prevention of undue influence on policy decisions.
Article Outline: "Military Inc."
Name: Deconstructing Military Inc.: A Deep Dive into the Military-Industrial Complex
Outline:
Introduction: Defining the MIC and its significance.
Chapter 1: Historical Overview: Tracing the MIC's evolution.
Chapter 2: Key Players: Governments, Military, and Contractors.
Chapter 3: Influence of Lobbying and Political Contributions.
Chapter 4: Ethical Considerations and Opportunity Costs.
Chapter 5: Global Impact: Arms Sales and Geopolitical Influence.
Chapter 6: Transparency and Accountability Measures.
Chapter 7: Future Trends: Adapting to Technological Advancements.
Conclusion: The future of the MIC and the need for responsible governance.
(The detailed content for each chapter is covered in the main article above.)
FAQs:
1. What is the Military-Industrial Complex? It's the interconnected relationship between a nation's government, its military, and its private defense contractors.
2. How does the MIC influence government policy? Through lobbying, campaign contributions, and the inherent pressure created by the need for military equipment and services.
3. What are the ethical concerns surrounding the MIC? Opportunity costs of spending, potential for conflicts of interest, and the human and environmental costs of warfare.
4. How does the MIC impact global stability? Through international arms sales, potentially fueling conflicts and regional instability.
5. What steps can be taken to increase transparency in the MIC? Strengthening oversight, implementing stricter regulations, and promoting public awareness.
6. How is the MIC adapting to technological changes? By focusing on cyber warfare, AI, and autonomous weapons systems.
7. What is the economic impact of the MIC? It creates jobs and stimulates technological innovation, but also diverts resources from other sectors.
8. Can the MIC be controlled or reformed? Yes, through greater transparency, stricter regulations, and responsible government oversight.
9. What is the difference between the MIC and the arms trade? The MIC is a broader system encompassing the relationship between government, military, and industry; the arms trade is the specific buying and selling of weapons.
Related Articles:
1. The Economics of War: Examines the economic impact of military spending and the MIC's role in driving economic growth.
2. Defense Contractors and Lobbying: A deep dive into the lobbying efforts of defense contractors and their influence on policy.
3. The Ethics of Warfare and Military Technology: Explores the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by modern warfare and the development of advanced weapons systems.
4. The Arms Trade and Global Instability: Analyzes the impact of international arms sales on regional conflicts and global security.
5. Government Oversight of Defense Spending: Examines the mechanisms for overseeing defense spending and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse.
6. The Role of Technology in Modern Warfare: Focuses on the technological advancements driving change in the MIC and their implications for combat.
7. The Future of Warfare and the Military-Industrial Complex: Explores potential future scenarios and the implications for the MIC.
8. Comparing Military Spending Across Nations: A comparative analysis of defense spending across different countries and its impact.
9. Civil-Military Relations and Democratic Governance: Explores the relationship between the military, government, and civil society in democratic systems.
military inc: Military Inc Ayesha Siddiqa-Agha, 2017 Pakistan is a strategic ally of the US in the 'war on terror'. It is the third largest recipient of US aid in the world. Yet Pakistan is a state run by its army and intelligence service. Operating in the shadows, Pakistan's military industrial complex owns and controls swathes of the economic and political landscape of the country. Military Inc. dares to illuminate the military as an oppressive holding company possessing not just security-related businesses, but also hotels, shopping malls, insurance companies, banks, farms and even an airline. The result is a deeply undemocratic society, where money is funnelled towards the military's economic enterprises, leaving those in need of it impoverished and effectively disenfranchised. With an empirical richness, and a view to Pakistan's recent history, Ayesha Siddiqa offers a detailed and powerful case study of a global phenomenon: corruption, hollow economic growth and elitism. This new edition includes a chapter on the recent developments of the military's foray into the media, and a new preface. |
military inc: The Battle for Pakistan Shuja Nawaz, 2020-04-10 The Battle for Pakistan showcases a marriage of convenience between unequal partners. The relationship between Pakistan and the United States since the early 1950s has been nothing less than a whiplash-inducing rollercoaster ride. Today, surrounded by hostile neighbors, with Afghanistan increasingly under Indian influence, Pakistan does not wish to break ties with the United States. Nor does it want to become a vassal of China and get caught in the vice of a US-China rivalry, or in the Arab-Iran conflict. Internally, massive economic and demographic challenges as well as the existential threat of armed militancy pose huge obstacles to Pakistan's development and growth. Could its short-run political miscalculations in the Obama years prove too costly? Can the erratic Trump administration help salvage this relationship? Based on detailed interviews with key US and South Asian leaders, access to secret documents and operations, and the author’s personal relationships and deep knowledge of the region, this book untangles the complex web of the US-Pakistani relationship and identifies a clear path forward, showing how the United States can build better partnerships in troubled corners of the world. |
military inc: Military Inc. Ayesha Siddiqa, 2017-03-29 Pakistan is a strategic ally of the US in the ‘war on terror’. It is the third largest recipient of US aid in the world. Yet Pakistan is a state run by its army and intelligence service. Ayesha Siddiqa shows how the power of the military has transformed Pakistani society, where the armed forces have become an independent class. The military is entrenched in the corporate sector. So Pakistan's companies and its main assets are in the hands of a tiny minority of senior army officials. Siddiqa examines this military economy and the consequences of merging the military and corporate sectors. Does democracy have a future? Will the generals ever withdraw to the barracks? Military Inc. analyses the internal and external dynamics of this gradual power-building and the impact that it is having on Pakistan's political and economic development. |
military inc: Battle of Britain The Movie Dilip Sarkar, Robert J Rudhall, 2023-06-30 Released in 1969, the film Battle of Britain went on to become one of the most iconic war movies ever produced. The film drew many respected British actors to accept roles as key figures of the battle, including Sir Laurence Olivier as Hugh Dowding and Trevor Howard as Keith Park. It also starred Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer and Robert Shaw as squadron leaders. As well as its large all-star international cast, the film was notable for its spectacular flying sequences which were on a far grander scale than anything that had been seen on film before. At the time of its release, Battle of Britain was singled out for its efforts to portray the events of the summer of 1940 in great accuracy. To achieve this, Battle of Britain veterans such as Group Captain Tom Gleave, Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck, Wing Commander Douglas Bader, Squadron Leader BolesÅaw DrobiÅski and Luftwaffe General Adolf Galland were all involved as consultants. This detailed description of the making of the film is supported by a mouth-watering selection of pictures that were taken during the production stages. The images cover not only the many vintage aircraft used in the film, but also the airfields, the actors, and even the merchandise which accompanied the filmâs release in 1969 â plus a whole lot more. There are numerous air-to-air shots of the Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Hurricanes and Heinkels that were brought together for the film. There are also images that capture the moment that Battle of Britain veterans, some of whom were acting as consultants, visited the sets. Interviews with people who worked on the film, such as Hamish Mahaddie, John Blake and Ron Goodwin, among others, bring the story to life. |
military inc: The Nine Lives of Pakistan: Dispatches from a Precarious State Declan Walsh, 2020-11-17 Winner of the 2021 Overseas Press Club of America Cornelius Ryan Award The former New York Times Pakistan bureau chief paints an arresting, up-close portrait of a fractured country. Declan Walsh is one of the New York Times’s most distinguished international correspondents. His electrifying portrait of Pakistan over a tumultuous decade captures the sweep of this strange, wondrous, and benighted country through the dramatic lives of nine fascinating individuals. On assignment as the country careened between crises, Walsh traveled from the raucous port of Karachi to the salons of Lahore, and from Baluchistan to the mountains of Waziristan. He met a diverse cast of extraordinary Pakistanis—a chieftain readying for war at his desert fort, a retired spy skulking through the borderlands, and a crusading lawyer risking death for her beliefs, among others. Through these “nine lives” he describes a country on the brink—a place of creeping extremism and political chaos, but also personal bravery and dogged idealism that defy easy stereotypes. Unbeknownst to Walsh, however, an intelligence agent was tracking him. Written in the aftermath of Walsh’s abrupt deportation, The Nine Lives of Pakistan concludes with an astonishing encounter with that agent, and his revelations about Pakistan’s powerful security state. Intimate and complex, attuned to the centrifugal forces of history, identity, and faith, The Nine Lives of Pakistan offers an unflinching account of life in a precarious, vital country. |
military inc: The Army and Democracy Aqil Shah, 2014-04-29 In sharp contrast to neighboring India, the Muslim nation of Pakistan has been ruled by its military for over three decades. The Army and Democracy identifies steps for reforming Pakistan’s armed forces and reducing its interference in politics, and sees lessons for fragile democracies striving to bring the military under civilian control. |
military inc: Rapid Instructional Design George M. Piskurich, 2015-01-06 The classic guide to instructional design, fully updated for thenew ways we learn Rapid Instructional Design is the industry standard guideto creating effective instructional materials, providingno-nonsense practicality rather than theory-driven text. Beginningwith a look at what instructional design really means, readersare guided step-by-step through the ADDIE model to exploretechniques for analysis, design, development, intervention, andevaluation. This new third edition has been updated to cover newapplications, technologies, and concepts, and includes many newtemplates, real-life examples, and additional instructor materials.Instruction delivery has expanded rapidly in the nine years sincethe second edition's publication, and this update covers all themajor advances in the field. The major instructional models areexpanded to apply to e-learning, MOOCs, mobile learning, and socialnetwork-based learning. Informal learning and communities ofpractice are examined, as well. Instructional design is the systematic process by whichinstructional materials are designed, developed, and delivered.Designers must determine the learner's current state and needs,define the end goals of the instruction, and create an interventionto assist in the transition. This book is a complete guide to theprocess, helping readers design efficient, effective materials. Learn the ins and outs of the ADDIE model Discover shortcuts for rapid design Design for e-learning, Millennials, and MOOCs Investigate methods for emerging avenues of instruction This book does exactly what a well-designed course should do,providing relevant guidance for anyone who wants to know how toapply good instructional design. Eminently practical and fullyup-to-date, Rapid Instructional Design is the one-stop guideto more effective instruction. |
military inc: Pakistan Husain Haqqani, 2010-03-10 Among U.S. allies in the war against terrorism, Pakistan cannot be easily characterized as either friend or foe. Nuclear-armed Pakistan is an important center of radical Islamic ideas and groups. Since 9/11, the selective cooperation of president General Pervez Musharraf in sharing intelligence with the United States and apprehending al Qaeda members has led to the assumption that Pakistan might be ready to give up its longstanding ties with radical Islam. But Pakistan's status as an Islamic ideological state is closely linked with the Pakistani elite's worldview and the praetorian ambitions of its military. This book analyzes the origins of the relationships between Islamist groups and Pakistan's military, and explores the nation's quest for identity and security. Tracing how the military has sought U.S. support by making itself useful for concerns of the moment—while continuing to strengthen the mosque-military alliance within Pakistan—Haqqani offers an alternative view of political developments since the country's independence in 1947. |
military inc: Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War Paul Scharre, 2018-04-24 Winner of the 2019 William E. Colby Award The book I had been waiting for. I can't recommend it highly enough. —Bill Gates The era of autonomous weapons has arrived. Today around the globe, at least thirty nations have weapons that can search for and destroy enemy targets all on their own. Paul Scharre, a leading expert in next-generation warfare, describes these and other high tech weapons systems—from Israel’s Harpy drone to the American submarine-hunting robot ship Sea Hunter—and examines the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use. “A smart primer to what’s to come in warfare” (Bruce Schneier), Army of None engages military history, global policy, and cutting-edge science to explore the implications of giving weapons the freedom to make life and death decisions. A former soldier himself, Scharre argues that we must embrace technology where it can make war more precise and humane, but when the choice is life or death, there is no replacement for the human heart. |
military inc: Handbook of Military Industrial Engineering Adedeji B. Badiru, Marlin U. Thomas, 2009-02-25 In light of increasing economic and international threats, military operations must be examined with a critical eye in terms of process design, management, improvement, and control. Although the Pentagon and militaries around the world have utilized industrial engineering (IE) concepts to achieve this goal for decades, there has been no single reso |
military inc: Encyclopedia of Military Science G. Kurt Piehler, 2013-07-24 The Encyclopedia of Military Science provides a comprehensive, ready-reference on the organization, traditions, training, purpose, and functions of today’s military. Entries in this four-volume work include coverage of the duties, responsibilities, and authority of military personnel and an understanding of strategies and tactics of the modern military and how they interface with political, social, legal, economic, and technological factors. A large component is devoted to issues of leadership, group dynamics, motivation, problem-solving, and decision making in the military context. Finally, this work also covers recent American military history since the end of the Cold War with a special emphasis on peacekeeping and peacemaking operations, the First Persian Gulf War, the events surrounding 9/11, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and how the military has been changing in relation to these events. |
military inc: Cognitive Capitalism Yann Moulier-Boutang, 2011 This book argues that we are undergoing a transition from industrial capitalism to a new form of capitalism - what the author calls & lsquo; cognitive capitalism & rsquo; |
military inc: Future War Christopher Coker, 2015-11-12 Will tomorrow's wars be dominated by autonomous drones, land robots and warriors wired into a cybernetic network which can read their thoughts? Will war be fought with greater or lesser humanity? Will it be played out in cyberspace and further afield in Low Earth Orbit? Or will it be fought more intensely still in the sprawling cities of the developing world, the grim black holes of social exclusion on our increasingly unequal planet? Will the Great Powers reinvent conflict between themselves or is war destined to become much 'smaller' both in terms of its actors and the beliefs for which they will be willing to kill? In this illuminating new book Christopher Coker takes us on an incredible journey into the future of warfare. Focusing on contemporary trends that are changing the nature and dynamics of armed conflict, he shows how conflict will continue to evolve in ways that are unlikely to render our century any less bloody than the last. With insights from philosophy, cutting-edge scientific research and popular culture, Future War is a compelling and thought-provoking meditation on the shape of war to come. |
military inc: Patrolling Baghdad Mark R. DePue, 2007 Captures the experiences of an Illinois National Guard unit in the city of Baghdad, where it worked with other MP units to restore order to the chaotic streets, while simultaneously helping to rebuild Iraqi police forces and act as boots-on-the-ground diplomats in the inevitable clash of cultures. |
military inc: The Road: Uprising in West Papua JOHN. MARTINKUS, 2020-03-16 Chemical weapons deployed. Choppers taken out. Tens of thousands of people displaced. Communications repressed. The West Papuan independence movement has reignited, and Indonesian troops are cracking down. In The Road, John Martinkus gives a gripping, up-to-date account of the province's descent into armed conflict and suppression. Replete with vivid detail and new information, his revelatory work of journalism shows how and why a highlands road led to an uprising, and where this might all lead. |
military inc: Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979-99 A. Siddiqa-Agha, 2001-03-20 The strategic imperative is held as the primary explanation for Pakistan's military buildup. This book presents a fundamental departure in presenting an analysis of the internal dynamics of defence management and decisionmaking in Pakistan - a new nuclear weapon state. This is an in-depth study of Pakistan's security link with its arms suppliers and defence industrial capacity, and the influence of Pakistan's Army on conventional and non-conventional defence decisions. The analysis is backed with numerous case studies of defence decisions carried out from 1979-99. |
military inc: The Little Black Book of Scams Industry Canada, Competition Bureau Canada, 2014-03-10 The Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams is a compact and easy to use reference guide filled with information Canadians can use to protect themselves against a variety of common scams. It debunks common myths about scams, provides contact information for reporting a scam to the correct authority, and offers a step-by-step guide for scam victims to reduce their losses and avoid becoming repeat victims. Consumers and businesses can consult The Little Black Book of Scams to avoid falling victim to social media and mobile phone scams, fake charities and lotteries, dating and romance scams, and many other schemes used to defraud Canadians of their money and personal information. |
military inc: The Other End of the Spear John J. Mcgrath, 2011-09-16 This book looks at several troop categories based on primary function and analyzes the ratio between these categories to develop a general historical ratio. This ratio is called the Tooth-to-Tail Ratio. McGrath's study finds that this ratio, among types of deployed US forces, has steadily declined since World War II, just as the nature of warfare itself has changed. At the same time, the percentage of deployed forces devoted to logistics functions and to base and life support functions have increased, especially with the advent of the large-scale of use of civilian contractors. This work provides a unique analysis of the size and composition of military forces as found in historical patterns. Extensively illustrated with charts, diagrams, and tables. (Originally published by the Combat Studies Institute Press) |
military inc: Pakistan at the Crossroads Christophe Jaffrelot, 2016-04-12 In Pakistan at the Crossroads, top international scholars assess Pakistan's politics and economics and the challenges faced by its civil and military leaders domestically and diplomatically. Contributors examine the state's handling of internal threats, tensions between civilians and the military, strategies of political parties, police and law enforcement reform, trends in judicial activism, the rise of border conflicts, economic challenges, financial entanglements with foreign powers, and diplomatic relations with India, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and the United States. In addition to ethnic strife in Baluchistan and Karachi, terrorist violence in Pakistan in response to the American-led military intervention in Afghanistan and in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas by means of drones, as well as to Pakistani army operations in the Pashtun area, has reached an unprecedented level. There is a growing consensus among state leaders that the nation's main security threats may come not from India but from its spiraling internal conflicts, though this realization may not sufficiently dissuade the Pakistani army from targeting the country's largest neighbor. This volume is therefore critical to grasping the sophisticated interplay of internal and external forces complicating the country's recent trajectory. |
military inc: Blackwater Jeremy Scahill, 2011-05-26 Meet Blackwater USA, the private army that the US government has quietly hired to operate in international war zones and on American soil. Its contacts run from military and intelligence agencies to the upper echelons of the White House; it has a military base, a fleet of aircraft and 20,000 troops, but since September 2007 the firm has been hit by a series of scandals that, far from damaging the company, have led to an unprecedented period of expansion. This revised and updated edition includes Scahill's continued investigative work into one of the outrages of our time: the privatisation of war. |
military inc: The Armed Forces of North Korea Stijn Mitzer, Joost Oliemans, 2020 This book seeks to bring order and coherence to the chaotic state of affairs in the intelligence community of North Korea-watchers, as well as to disprove the much-echoed stance that there is little to fear from the DPRK by providing information on a plethora of never-before described weapons systems and modernization programs. |
military inc: Pakistan Imran Khan, 2011-09-15 A must-read for anyone interested in the intrigue of politics in the most dangerous country on earth (The Sunday Times) Read the unique insider's view of a country unfamiliar to a Western audience, seen through the eyes of the man set to become Pakistan's new Prime Minister. Born only five years after Pakistan was created in 1947, Imran Khan has lived his country's history. Undermined by a ruling elite, and unable to protect its people from the carnage of regular bombings from terrorists and its own ally, America, Pakistan has for years suffered from instability. Now Imran Khan and his own political party, the Tehreek-e-Insaf, offer a real political alternative for the people of Pakistan at a time when tension between Pakistan's government and the powerful military has reached dangerous new levels. How did this flashpoint of volatility and injustice come about? Pakistan: A Personal History provides a unique insider's view of a country unfamiliar to a western audience. Woven into this history we see how Imran Khan's personal life - his happy childhood in Lahore, his Oxford education, his extraordinary cricketing career, his marriage to Jemima Goldsmith, his mother's influence and that of his Islamic faith - inform both the historical narrativeandhis current philanthropic and political activities. It is at once absorbing and insightful, casting fresh light upon a country whose culture he believes is largely misunderstood by the West. |
military inc: Military Veteran Reintegration Carl Castro, Sanela Dursun, 2019-08-21 Military Veteran Reintegration: Approach, Management, and Assessment of Military Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Life offers a toolkit for researchers and practitioners on best practices for easing the reintegration of military veterans returning to civilian society. It lays out how transition occurs, identifies factors that promote or impede transition, and operationalizes outcomes associated with transition success. Bringing together experts from around the world to address the most important aspects of military transition, the book looks at what has been shown to work and what has not, while also offering a roadmap for best-results moving forward. - Contains evidence-based interventions for military veteran-to-civilian transition - Features international experts from North America, Europe and Asia - Includes how to measure transition outcomes - Outlines recovery programs for the injured and sick - Identifies factors that promote or impede successful transition |
military inc: The Military as an Economic Actor J. Brömmelhörster, W. Paes, 2003-11-04 Armed forces across the globe engage in economic activities both in times of war and peace. This book provides a critical analysis of this phenomenon, comparing experiences with 'military business' from four continents (Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America). Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the volume shows the implications of 'military business' for civil-military relations, good governance and international development policies. |
military inc: Time and Social Theory Barbara Adam, 2013-03-01 Time is at the forefront of contemporary scholarly inquiry across the natural sciences and the humanities. Yet the social sciences have remained substantially isolated from time-related concerns. This book argues that time should be a key part of social theory and focuses concern upon issues which have emerged as central to an understanding of today's social world. Through her analysis of time Barbara Adam shows that our contemporary social theories are firmly embedded in Newtonian science and classical dualistic philosophy. She exposes these classical frameworks of thought as inadequate to the task of conceptualizing our contemporary world of standardized time, computers, nuclear power and global telecommunications. |
military inc: Military, State and Society in Pakistan H. Rizvi, 2000-05-15 This book offers a comprehensive study of the dynamics of civil-military relations in Pakistan. It asks how and why the Pakistan military has acquired such a salience in the polity and how it continues to influence decision-making on foreign and security policies and key domestic political, social and economic issues. It also examines the changes within the military, the impact of these changes on its disposition towards the state and society, and the implications for peace and security in nuclearized South Asia. |
military inc: World City Doreen Massey, 2013-04-23 Cities around the world are striving to be 'global'. This book tells the story of one of them, and in so doing raises questions of identity, place and political responsibility that are essential for all cities. World City focuses its account on London, one of the greatest of these global cities. London is a city of delight and of creativity. It also presides over a country increasingly divided between North and South and over a neo-liberal form of globalisation - the deregulation, financialisation and commercialisation of all aspects of life - that is resulting in an evermore unequal world. World City explores how we can understand this complex narrative and asks a question that should be asked of any city: what does this place stand for? Following the implosion within the financial sector, such issues are even more vital. In a new Preface, Doreen Massey addresses these changed times. She argues that, whatever happens, the evidence of this book is that we must not go back to 'business as usual', and she asks whether the financial crisis might open up a space for a deeper rethinking of both our economy and our society. |
military inc: Military Strategy John M. Collins, 2011 Provides an overview of the principles, theories, policies, and other fundamentals of modern warfare and their applications in the twenty-first century. |
military inc: Immortal Steven R. Ward, 2014-01-15 Immortal is the only single-volume English-language survey of Iran’s military history. CIA analyst Steven R. Ward shows that Iran’s soldiers, from the famed “Immortals” of ancient Persia to today’s Revolutionary Guard, have demonstrated through the centuries that they should not be underestimated. This history also provides background on the nationalist, tribal, and religious heritages of the country to help readers better understand Iran and its security outlook. Immortal begins with the founding of ancient Persia’s empire under Cyrus the Great and continues through the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) and up to the present. Drawing on a wide range of sources including declassified documents, the author gives primary focus to the modern era to relate the build-up of the military under the last Shah, its collapse during the Islamic revolution, its fortunes in the Iran-Iraq War, and its rise from the ashes to help Iran become once again a major regional military power. He shows that, despite command and supply problems, Iranian soldiers demonstrate high levels of bravery and perseverance and have enjoyed surprising tactical successes even when victory has been elusive. These qualities and the Iranians’ ability to impose high costs on their enemies by exploiting Iran’s imposing geography bear careful consideration today by potential opponents. |
military inc: The World Book Encyclopedia , 2002 An encyclopedia designed especially to meet the needs of elementary, junior high, and senior high school students. |
military inc: Military Inc. Ayesha Siddiqa, 2007-05-09 Pakistan has emerged as a strategic ally of the United States in the war on terror. It is the third largest recipient of U.S. aid in the world. But how stable is Pakistan? Ayesha Siddiqa shows how the military has gradually gained control of Pakistan's political, social, and economic resources. T his power has transformed Pakistani society, where the armed forces have become an independent class. The military is entrenched in the corporate sector and controls the country's largest companies and large tracts of real estate. So Pakistan's companies and its main assets are in the hands of a tiny minority of senior army officials. Siddiqa examines this military economy and the consequences of merging the military and corporate sectors. Does democracy have a future in the new Pakistan? Will the generals ever withdraw to the barracks. Military Inc. analyzes the internal and external dynamics of this gradual power-building and the impact that it is having on Pakistan's political and economic development. |
military inc: Striking Inside Angola with 32 Battalion Marius Scheepers, 2012 Join 'The Terrible Ones' on clandestine operations and in conventional warfare during the harsh bush war that raged through southern Angola in the 1980s. The conflict ended with the last major battle of the Cold War, one of the largest land battles of the latter part of the 20th century. This book presents an eyewitness account by a South African Defense Force (SADF) Signals Officer, Marius Scheepers, who served in arguably the most formidable battle unit that ever existed in the history of the South African Defense Force: 32 Battalion. It describes how members lived and fought in the bush during 1983 under the most difficult conditions. Being the Signals Officer of 32 Battalion, Scheepers was privy to all major command decisions of the time. Although he focuses primarily on operations during the year 1983, including Operations Snoek and Dolfyn, he includes concise descriptions of all other major operations that took place inside Angola between 1966 and 1988, including Operation Askari (1983/84) and the decisive battle at Cuito Cuanavale in 1987/88. Extensive appendices include 32 Battalion sitreps, radio-code cards, SADF radio equipment used by 32 Battalion and details on SADF, SAAF and SWAPO. |
military inc: On the Psychology of Military Incompetence Norman F Dixon, 2016-05-31 A classic study of military leadership uncovering why generals fail The Crimea, the Boer War, the Somme, Tobruk, Pearl Harbor, the Bay of Pigs: these are just some of the milestones in a century of military incompetence, of costly mishaps and tragic blunders. Are these simple accidents—as the bloody fool theory has it—or are they inevitable? The psychologist Norman F. Dixon argues that there is a pattern to inept generalship, and he locates this pattern within the very act of creating armies in the first place, which in his view produces a levelling down of human capability that encourages the mediocre and limits the gifted. In this light, successful generals achieve what they do despite the stultifying features of the organization to which they belong. On the Psychology of Military Incompetence is at once an original exploration of the battles that have defined the last two centuries of human civilization and an essential guide for the next generation of military leaders. |
military inc: Correctional Boot Camps Doris L. MacKenzie, Gaylene S. Armstrong, 2004-02-20 Boot camps have developed over the past two decades into a program that incorporates a military regimen to create a structured environment. While some critics of this method of corrections suggest that the confrontational nature of the program is antithetical to treatment, authors Doris Layton MacKenzie and Gaylene Styve Armstrong present research knowledge and personal discussions with community leaders that offer insight into both the strengths and weaknesses of this controversial form of corrections. Correctional Boot Camps: Military Basic Training or a Model for Corrections? provides the most up-to-date assessment of the major perspectives and issues related to the current state of boot camps. The book goes beyond cursory examinations of the effectiveness of boot camps, presenting an in-depth view of a greater variety of issues. Correctional Boot Camps examines empirical evidence on boot camps drawn from diverse sources including male, female, juvenile, and adult programs from across the nation. The book explores empirical research on both the punitive and rehabilitative components of the boot camp model and the effectiveness of the tough on crime aspects of the programs that are often thought of as punishment or retribution, in lieu of a longer sentence in a traditional facility. Thus, offenders earn their way back to the general public more quickly because they have paid their debt to society by being punished in a short-term, but strict, boot camp. Correctional Boot Camps is a comprehensive textbook for undergraduate and graduate students studying corrections and juvenile justice. The book is also a valuable resource for correctional professionals interacting with offenders. |
military inc: Decision Making Manual Ayesha Siddiqa, 2020-08-12 Grab this decision making manual and start making better decisions today! |
military inc: China's Future David Shambaugh, 2016-03-11 China's future is arguably the most consequential question in global affairs. Having enjoyed unprecedented levels of growth, China is at a critical juncture in the development of its economy, society, polity, national security, and international relations. The direction the nation takes at this turning point will determine whether it stalls or continues to develop and prosper. Will China be successful in implementing a new wave of transformational reforms that could last decades and make it the world's leading superpower? Or will its leaders shy away from the drastic changes required because the regime's power is at risk? If so, will that lead to prolonged stagnation or even regime collapse? Might China move down a more liberal or even democratic path? Or will China instead emerge as a hard, authoritarian and aggressive superstate? In this new book, David Shambaugh argues that these potential pathways are all possibilities - but they depend on key decisions yet to be made by China's leaders, different pressures from within Chinese society, as well as actions taken by other nations. Assessing these scenarios and their implications, he offers a thoughtful and clear study of China's future for all those seeking to understand the country's likely trajectory over the coming decade and beyond. |
military inc: Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919 Gerald W. L. Nicholson, 2015 An authoritative and extensively illustrated account of how the Canadian Army experienced the Great War. |
military inc: Gridlock Thomas Hale, David Held, Kevin Young, 2013-07-11 The issues that increasingly dominate the 21st century cannot be solved by any single country acting alone, no matter how powerful. To manage the global economy, prevent runaway environmental destruction, reign in nuclear proliferation, or confront other global challenges, we must cooperate. But at the same time, our tools for global policymaking - chiefly state-to-state negotiations over treaties and international institutions - have broken down. The result is gridlock, which manifests across areas via a number of common mechanisms. The rise of new powers representing a more diverse array of interests makes agreement more difficult. The problems themselves have also grown harder as global policy issues penetrate ever more deeply into core domestic concerns. Existing institutions, created for a different world, also lock-in pathological decision-making procedures and render the field ever more complex. All of these processes - in part a function of previous, successful efforts at cooperation - have led global cooperation to fail us even as we need it most. Ranging over the main areas of global concern, from security to the global economy and the environment, this book examines these mechanisms of gridlock and pathways beyond them. It is written in a highly accessible way, making it relevant not only to students of politics and international relations but also to a wider general readership. |
military inc: Alter-Globalization Geoffrey Pleyers, 2013-04-23 Contrary to the common view that globalization undermines social agency, ‘alter-globalization activists', that is, those who contest globalization in its neo-liberal form, have developed new ways to become actors in the global age. They propose alternatives to Washington Consensus policies, implement horizontal and participatory organization models and promote a nascent global public space. Rather than being anti-globalization, these activists have built a truly global movement that has gathered citizens, committed intellectuals, indigenous, farmers, dalits and NGOs against neoliberal policies in street demonstrations and Social Forums all over the world, from Bangalore to Seattle and from Porto Alegre to Nairobi. This book analyses this worldwide movement on the bases of extensive field research conducted since 1999. Alter-Globalization provides a comprehensive account of these critical global forces and their attempts to answer one of the major challenges of our time: How can citizens and civil society contribute to the building of a fairer, sustainable and more democratic co-existence of human beings in a global world? |
military inc: Ibrahim Babangida Dan Agbese, 2012-06-30 To borrow a hackneyed phrase, Nigeria has had a chequered political history before and since independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960. Two sets of actors - the civilian politicians and the military politicians - have been on the national political stage since January 15, 1966. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was one of them. In his eight years in power as president, or perhaps more correctly as military president, he affected the course of Nigeria's events, for better or for worse, in a way that few, if any, before him did. It is not possible to tell Nigeria's story without Babangida's part in it.The book is the story of IBB, the little orphan from Minna, Niger State and his meticulous rise to the top of his profession and the leadership of his country. Perhaps, more importantly, it is the story of Nigeria, its post-independence politics and power, told from the perspective of the actions and decisions of one of the main actors on the country's political stage. The events that shaped the Babangida era did not begin on August 27, 1985, the day he staged a palace coup against General Muhammadu Buhari. They began long before that. This book is the definitive story of the military, politics and power in Nigeria. |