A Cross-National Analysis of Militarization and Well-Being Relationships in Developing Countries

Bringing the Military Back in: Military Expenditures and Economic Growth 1990 to 2003

“…Guns and butter advocates contend that the military institution may generate modernizing and prodevelopmental results (Pye 1962;Janowitz 1964;Weede 1983Weede , 1986Weede , 1993Davis, Kick and Kiefer 1989;Bullock and Firebaugh 1990;Kick et al 1998). Modernists argue that especially in Third World countries militaries are leading social institutions that serve a vital role in producing modernized attitudes and cultivating the foreign investment and aid necessary for economic growth (Pye 1962;Stockwell and Laidlow 1981).…”

“…These create more rationalized and efficient means of organization and production, inducing economic growth (Inkeles and Smith 1974;Weede 1983Weede , 1986Weede , 1993. With these functions the military becomes a key national institution, channeling large segments of the population into civilian sectors across the spectrum of nations (Pye 1962;Janowitz 1964;Johnson 1964;Russett 1969;Benoit 1973;Weede 1983;Kick and Sharda 1986;Davis et al 1989;Kick et al 1998).…”

“…Cheung (1988) identifies comparable contributions in China, where the PLA has been responsible for developing communication lines, training 1.5 million technicians, and bringing internal integration to the Xinjian region. The military's "opening-up" of otherwise inaccessible hinterland areas also is said to foster economic expansion and labor force opportunities, especially in developing societies (Newman 1978;Kurian 1982;Babin 1990;Looney 1990;Bunbongkarn 1991;Chowdhury 1991;Sanday 1991;Firebaugh 1992;Knight, Loayza, and Villanueva 1996;Kick et al 1998).…”

“…Findings such as these justify separating military expenditures into those supporting military personnel versus those for military equipment (although we note that. institutions such as secondary education may promote human capital growth even better than military participation) (Kentor 1998;Kick et al 1998;Kick et al 2006).…”

The impact of violence on development in low- to middle-income countries

“…Available evidence indicates that overall military expenditures, especially when they include imported weapons and military rule, adversely effect development in LMICs (Kick, Davis, Kiefer & Burns, 1998;Collier, 2006). Although the top 15 military spenders are mostly HICs, many LMICs spend a greater proportion of their available resources on defence than these HICs (Jolly, 2004).…”