Trading in a threat system: the US-Soviet case

Gift, Richard E.

doi:10.1177/002200276901300402

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…1 not simply as an index of fear but as the result of hostile versus cooperative relations. The latter were exemplified typically by trade (although much criticized, this view of Richardson's was given considerable support by Gift (1969) in his study of US-USSR commercial trade, though he only generally referred to Richardson). However, military expenditures clearly can also be made as an act of friendship, say to fulfill treaty obligations, or generally as an act of cooperation between some nations against common external enemies or to assist one another to preserve internal stability.…”

Section: Letmentioning

confidence: 99%

Richardson Processes and Arms Transfers, 1971-1980: A Preliminary Analysis

Chadwick

1986

Journal of Peace Research

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Arms transfers to Asian countries seem to effect an increase in military expenditures of their neighbors. An examination of Australia, US and USSR military expenditure patterns for 1971-80 in an Asian context indicates sensitivity to arms transfers and US 'containment policy' in Asian countries. Analyses of other Asian countries (from Afghanistan to Japan) lead to similar conclusions. Lewis Fry Richardson's theory is employed in a manner which allows alternative hypotheses to be tested, supplementing his original 'arms race' formulation. Burden sharing, cooperation, and compliance among allies, and asymmetric responses to perceived threat, are among the alternatives studied. Economic burden does not appear to affect significantly many Asian countries' ability to increase military expenditures, at least in the manner Richardson proposed, but this result may be due to the relatively low burden currently placed on the economies of most countries studied. It is concluded that Richardson's theory and general methodology may still be useful not only for the policy purposes he originally intended, but also for obtaining quantitative implications of military spending for long term problems such as environmental degradation, economic and political development, and social change. This can be accomplished by embedding equations similar to his into global macroeconomic and political models.

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Section: Letmentioning

confidence: 99%