Increased military investment

Description

After declining in the post-cold war era of the early 1990s, global military spending is on the rise again – threatening to break the one trillion dollar barrier this year, according to a group of UN-appointed military experts. The 16-member group estimates that military spending will rise to nearly $950 billion by the end of 2004, up from $900 billion in 2003. By contrast, rich nations spend $50-60 billion on development aid each year.

After the events of 9-11 the military investment and spending increased all over the world and it is increasing steadily through a new kind of war; the war on terrorism. The "War on Terrorism" was launched in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington D.C. by Al-Qaeda. It has become a central part of U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign and domestic policy. Unlike earlier concepts and definitions of war—with defined nations, boundaries, standing armies, and navies—the "War on Terrorism" has largely been dominated by the use of special forces, intelligence, police work, and diplomacy.

As a consequence of all those investments in military technology many new technologies are first tested and implemented for military applications, but many of these technology research projects have turned out to have less military uses but many civilian ones.

Enablers

• Terrorism
• New nuclear powers
• Powerful military-industrial corporations