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The Military and Corporations

Many communities rely on both the war industry and military bases for the jobs they provide. In many cases, however, the costs in lost health and environmental devastation are much bigger than the economic stimulation. Still, the “war economy” is the most lucrative business on the planet; it is in the economic interests of all the major powers to have a war going on.* WILPF especially perceives the cooperative relationships between the military and corporations profiting from military weapons construction and lobbying for increased spending on military programs, as very dangerous. These kind of cooperative relationships are far from unusual, and already in 1961, former US President Eisenhower said that “[…] we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” Read more about this in the MIL-CORP ConneXion Manual
airforce

Military Spending vs. Development

Vast resources are invested in weapons which destabilize our world and threaten massive destruction. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Annual Yearbook, in 2006 the world's total military expenditure was estimated to be US$ 1,204 billion or US$ 184 per capita. Less than 20 percent of this amount would be enough to fund gender equality, as set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, the world's total military spending continues to increase, and is now almost on the same level as it was at the end of the Cold War. Read more about military spending, development and gender equality here

 

WILPF believes that security cannot be attained through military means, but through trust and cooperation between countries. The vast resources currently invested in the military infrastructure, weapons and wars should be reallocated and invested in building a sustainable economy, reversing climate change and eliminating poverty, the real security threats of our times. We can free up resources for a peaceful economy responsive to the needs and welfare of the many, and not the wealth and power of the few by dismantling and converting the permanent war economy.

 

 


 

Links and resources

You get what you pay for! (pdf)
Funding gender equality would cost less than 20 percent of the world’s military spending.
What would you buy?

MIL-CORP ConneXion manual
MIL-CORP ConneXion hi-lights what we in WILPF perceive as the very dangerous
connection between the Pentagon and those corporations profiting from weapons production.

Disarmament and the Corporate Connection
Exposing the corporate influence on the perpetuation of the nuclear and aerospace industries.

Military Spending Toolkit
Take action now in order to increase transparency of military spending and accountability
for the priorities governments choose.

International Women's Day Disarmament Seminar 2008
At what cost? - Women, Wars, Weapons and Conflict Prevention

International Women's Day Disarmament Seminar 2003 (pdf)
Women's Rights and the Economics of War

 

The Economics of Militarism

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page last updated: 12 June 2008

 

 
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