Arms Transfers, Military Assistance, and Defense Industries: Socioeconomic Burden or Opportunity?

Abstract

More than thirty years of research on the positive or negative consequences of various military activities for the civilian sector has failed to yield strong and unambiguous evidence one way or the other. This article briefly describes the history of this gunsversus-butter controversy, noting the close relationship between U.S. policy needs and the response of the research community. The article then focuses on the debate over the role that arms transfers, military assistance, and defense industries play in Third World economic growth and development. Finally, it assesses the relevance of the debate for today's post-Cold War world.