Public opinion on armed forces in Spain: security threats, foreign policy and the military
In: Security and the military between reality and perception, S. 135-160
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In: Security and the military between reality and perception, S. 135-160
Argues that the US military budget has remained above Cold War levels in spite of budget-cutting efforts by both New Republicans & New Democrats because of the important role of the military-industrial complex & its strong link with the New Right & congressional Republicans. The "New Right" is described as a diverse array of organizations, think tanks, & policy trends that are most salient in times of perceived threats to national & business interests. The New Right's power is said to depend on the commitment of political & business leaders to increases in military spending that give legitimacy to conservative foreign policy. Interaction among executive branch officials, corporate elites, & congressional Republicans is analyzed in relation to the Gulf War & the 1994 midterm elections to show that the strategic doctrine developed by this coalition of conservatives has legitimized the continuance of Cold War military expenditures & generated bipartisan support for an interventionist, aggressive US military doctrine. The impact of foreign investors, & both aggressive & cautious internationalists is discussed. 1 Table. J. Lindroth
The reach & influence of the military have infiltrated the government, corporate, economic, & social sectors of Pakistani society. The military's organizational strength & its ties to the economy & society have deepened its already significant control over the country. This prominent position of power can be tied to a number of factors, including the ethnic & social make-up of the Army & the role of Islam in military ideology. Though a powerful military is likely to continue to draw resources away from societal development & security, the military may come to realize that only a strong & prosperous society will have the resources necessary to maintain a powerful military presence. K. Larsen
The reach & influence of the military have infiltrated the government, corporate, economic, & social sectors of Pakistani society. The military's organizational strength & its ties to the economy & society have deepened its already significant control over the country. This prominent position of power can be tied to a number of factors, including the ethnic & social make-up of the Army & the role of Islam in military ideology. Though a powerful military is likely to continue to draw resources away from societal development & security, the military may come to realize that only a strong & prosperous society will have the resources necessary to maintain a powerful military presence. K. Larsen
The chapter examines the political, bureaucratic, & foreign-policy influence of the military in post-Zia Pakistan. A historical analysis considers the Pakistan army's role & function from the Partition through the successive regimes of Ayub, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zia, Benazir Bhutto, & Sharif, as well as the foreign policy issues arising from the Cold war, the Kashmir dispute, & the Afghan situation. The 1999 coup that placed Musharraf in charge does not necessarily indicate a wholesale triumph of military power over civilian government, given post-Cold War diplomatic & economic pressures on Pakistan to resume democratic development. K. Coddon
Discusses the continued existence of large contingents of American military forces in foreign countries. In the post Cold War era, the U.S. has used the two-war strategy -- based on the belief that the military needs to be able to fight on two fronts, on opposite ends of the globe -- to maintain a large military establishment. The consequences of this continued military build up are addressed, The author focuses on East Asia, with sections on terrorism, China, Bush's "Axis of Evil," American militarism, & finally local protests against the American military base in Okinawa, Japan. J. Harwell
Analyzes the origins of the political class & characteristics of professional politicians in Ireland. The small political class includes members of the Dail & Seanad, & the occupational & educational backgrounds of these politicians are discussed. The candidate selection process & parliamentary system reveal the importance & cohesion of political parties. Career paths, salaries, pensions, & a lack of institutional reform concerning the political class are noted. 3 Tables, 29 References. L. Collins Leigh
The conflict for power between the US capitalist class & the rise of aggressive military ambitions presents transnational capitalist class (TTC) with important questions. Previously ignoring the role of the military industrial complex (MIC) indicates the need to review TCC theory in relation to the military-industrial base, which in turn necessitates a discussion of strategic policy & the political & economic splits within the arena. The author asserts that the most important division to be considered is between the transnational globalists & international feminist. A brief review of TCC theory describes the classic fractions identified by Sklair & Robinson & Harris. Understanding the MIC addresses their economic base, the impact of 9/11 on policy positions, & the ideology of conservative geopolitical realists. The author concludes that for circles of influence-industrial, state, intellectual, & cultural-create a powerful basis for an independent MIC network. The old nation centric state & the emerging transnational state are faced by considerable contradictions & instability that creates a crisis set within a pool of contradictions arising of economic competition, overproduction, & environmental destruction. Given these crises, it is not surprising that a political challenge advocating stability through military force would arise from within the capitalist class. The implications of the war in Iraq go beyond the suffering and & devastation to put the nature & the role of the international system at stake. Tables, References. J. Harwell
In: Women in the military and in armed conflict, S. 183-199
In: The European armed forces in transition: a comparative analysis, S. 129-144
The major question addressed in this paper is "how Canada can influence the shape & operating expectations of established & emerging coalitions to best benefit Canada's national interests," particularly in light of the challenges facing international coalitions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & the frequency with which states form & act through coalitions rather than individually. A major part of Canada's recent foreign policy has been to help build "coalitions of the willing" to address primarily humanitarian issues. Focus here, however, is on Canada's capability to play its commensurate role in coalition-based military operations in response to threats to world peace, rather than just offering token forces to keep its hand in the game. It is contended that much greater effort & expenditure are needed now to strengthen Canada's armed forces to the point where it can actually influence international events. The nature of coalitions & Canada's role within them are discussed, & a new national security strategy for acting through coalitions is outlined that will enable the country to regain & maintain its respected international tradition. J. Stanton
In: Military sociology: the richness of a discipline, S. 140-148
The 2002 US Senate race in MO was a long & important one, beginning two years earlier with the accidental death of Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan. At the time, Carnahan was running in the 2000 election against incumbent John Ashcroft, & the Republicans had the lead in the polls. After Carnahan's death, his campaign was taken over by his wife Jean, who won the seat for 2 years. In 2002 former Congressman Jim Talent ran & won against Jean Carnahan with early support from President Bush that probably gave him the edge in the race. Talent was able to use his greater experience & party interest group money to his advantage. The candidates set a spending record for MO elections; spending vehicles, especially TV, & amounts are detailed. Major interest group efforts came from the MO AFL-CIO (for Carnahan) & pro-life & pro-choice groups. Tables. M. Pflum
The chapter examines national identities, foreign policy, & otherness (both as a negative & positive feature of identity) as they bear on US-Islam relations, especially in regard to Bosnia. The constructivist approach emphasizes identity as relational & discursive, ie, rooted in speech practices. US foreign policy articulations demonstrate the dependence of American national identity on positive as well as negative Muslim alterities (eg, "good" Bosnia vs "bad" Middle East), bifurcating Islam in the service of a US narrative that justifies & perpetuates American identity. 17 References. K. Coddon
In: The new Germany: history, economy, policies, S. 277-300