The impact of the military in the third world: A study of some aspects of military intervention and defence procurement on developing economies

Abstract

The thesis is concerned with the consequences of military intervention and procurement for developing countries. The first part analyses the theoretical explanations from social science of military intervention and the related incidence of violence in the Third World. It argues in favour of the legitimacy thesis as an explanatory framework and discusses the evidence from independent states - Africa, the Middle East and Asia. An analysis of the factors conducive to non-intervention is also attempted. The second part discusses the problem of the competition between defence and welfare expenditures. It also goes on to analyse the economic impact of war on the development strategies of Nigeria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan and Vietnam. The third part looks at the relationship between development and the arms trade. It places arms procurement in the context of the industrialisation strategy and finds a positive linkage between domestic and production and the expansion of the manufacturing base. The last section discusses the problem and prospects of disarmament. In so far as violence and military intervention reflect the rapid changes taking place within the Third World it is not feasible to conceive of disarmament being a productive contribution to political and social stability.