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The Nexus Between Military Expenditure And The Rise Of Great Powers

Posted on:2014-03-01Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:Y G ZhengFull Text:PDF
GTID:1316330398955417Subject:Political economy
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
The rise of great powers means the increase of the role and influence in international community, and sharing the domination with the previous global dominant states in world affairs, along with the strength of military synchronization strengthen. In economics, military expenditure is the most important index to measure a country's military strength. China is on the rise and the military expenditure level is questioned by western countries.Based on a cross-field-discussion, this dissertation involves at least three fields such as economics, history and international relations, aiming to do a comparative research of the military expenditure in the process of the rise among some typical great powers like USA, USSR, and China. By building a trinity framework of "general analysis, structure analysis and performance analysis " for the research of the relation between the rise of great powers and military expenditure, the standard of military expenditure in the process of the rise of great powers shall be comprehensively evaluated. Through general analysis, the question of how much military expenditure is needed can be answered, i.e. the proportion of military expenditure of gross domestic product (GDP) and the proportion of military expenditure of fiscal spending by the central government. Through structure analysis, what the military expenditure is used to do will be clear. It is about where to spend and how much for it. Through performance analysis, we can figure out whether the military expenditure is worthy. Does military expenditure promote or drag economic growth. The results show that:After World War II, USA has maintained a large and growing level of military expenditure. On one hand, it is based on the strong foundation of the national economy, serving the hegemony of USA and USSR, also serving overseas expansion, for the national interests abroad. On the other hand, by expanding military procurement in the country to achieve the state monopoly capitalism, thereby regulating USA economy, reflecting the characteristics of relying on the military economy in USA. USSR adhered to the military priority development strategy on a long-term base, and played a significant role in World War II, its military forces once reaching the world's advanced level. However, based on the relatively weak foundation of the national economy, the unrestrained huge military expenditure led to serious consequences. Ultimately, the economy of USSR was worn down by the arms race with USA, leading to the collapse of USSR. Since the born of New China, China's military expenditure in the overall level showed the basic form of "high-low-middle", and played an important role in different historical periods to safeguard national sovereignty and unity and territorial integrity. But in the21st century, the level of China's military expenditure is not commensurate with its great power status.On this basis, this dissertation put forward policy recommendations on the issue of China's military expenditure.The dissertation contains six chapters. Chapter I, the introduction, includes the issues raised, the significance of the topics of research ideas, research methods and possible innovations. Chapter II is theoretical analysis of the relations between the rise of great powers and military expenditure. This chapter begins with the context of the theory development of great powers'rising and military expenditure relation, reviewing the main literatures in this area. Then the mechanisms of military expenditure promoting the great powers'rising are reviewed, also the current research progress domestic and overseas.Chapter III is the relations of military expenditure scale and the rise of great powers. This chapter describes the military expenditure of USA and USSR in World War II, and of USA, USSR (Russia), China in the Cold War, the post-Cold War era and the21st century. Analyze the specific demand characteristics of military expenditure in different countries and different periods, pointing out the different functions assumed of military expenditure in the rise of USA, USSR and China, to discuss the problems of the larger countries military expenditure and the direction of possible improvements.Chapter FV is the relations of the military expenditure structure and the rise of great powers. This chapter is based on USA. military expenditure structure and the rise of USA, USSR military expenditure structure rise with USSR perspective, emphasizing the powers of the big country in international politics, is largely a product of its military strength, and the wealth of nations pose a military strength of the material basis. Also China's military expenditure structure is briefly reviewed and forecasted. Therefore, the military expenditure structure optimization must serve the needs of the target at the rise of great powers.Chapter V is the impact of military expenditure on the economic development of the great powers. This chapter by analyzing the contribution of long-term USA military expenditure on economic growth, the different effects on economic growth of USSR military expenditure in World War ? and the Cold War, China's military expenditure on economic growth, emphasize the rise of great powers must correctly handle the relationship of economic development and national defense construction. Handled properly, military expenditure provides economic and safe securities for the national rise; handled improperly, the economic and social development is affected directly, in turn may affect the rise of great powers process.Chapter VI is the concluding remarks:the research implications and policy proposal. This chapter proposes that we should build a positive interaction mechanism between military expenditure and the rise of great powers. The scale of military expenditure should be scientific controlled to meet the national security need in the rise of great powers, promoting the coordinated development of military expenditure and the national economy and ensuring the realization of China "Wells Fargo strong army" strategy goals.
Keywords/Search Tags:The rise of great powers, Military expenditure, Defenseeconomy, International relations, Comparative research
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