Military Spending and the End of the Cold War

The issue of military spending and the size and power of the military-industrial complex has been argued heatedly for decades, but the discussion has shifted decidedly in favor of down-sizing the military and reducing military-oriented spending significantly since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the breakup of the Eastern bloc. The end of the Cold War has given impetus to efforts at reducing military expenditures across the board. Ever since World War II, the size of the military budget has been tied to fears of Communist aggression and the perception that the Communist nations were intent on spreading their ideology to every other nation of the world. The disintegration of the Soviet empire has not removed all of the threats from the world stage, and indeed that disintegration has itself created new tensions in some parts of the world as ethnic groups long held in check by the Soviets are now fighting among themselves for supremacy in certain areas. Still, the end of the Cold War is seen as an opportunity for a different sort of international alignment and a new emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation over military force. This fact coupled with the growing perception that there are numerous problems at home that need attention has added to demand for less spending on military projects. The result will be not only a downsizing of the military itself but also of military suppliers. The authors in Arms Control: Toward the 21st Century examine various aspects of th

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fective policy tool: As we approach the next millennium, however, we must be aware that the demands placed on this instrument have expanded beyond improving security, saving money, and reducing damage in war. Some experts believe it can assist in the settlement of traditional quarrels as well a ethnic struggles that have reappeared since the end of the Cold War (McCausland 152). While the end of the Cold War has reduced a certain kind of world tensions it clearly has not meant the end of conflict. The U.S. has shown a tendency toward demilitarization because of the reduced tensions, though some believe this may be premature and that a strong and large force may be necessary for some time to come. Still, we hear more and more about downsizing and about transferring military property to the civilian sector for development of new economic options. How the changeover in that sector of the economy dedicated to military production and procurement is as important as the fact of the changeover itself. One option might be called the Brutal Surgery option under which the cuts and changes are simply made with the hope that the economy will shift automatically to absorb the shock. This option involves closing bases, cancelling mili

Category: Economics - M