Military burden, modernization, and social well-being: The dynamics of developmental problems in Third World countries

The military represents a major force shaping political, social, and economic policies in most Third World countries in recent years. This is not unconnected with military coups that have ousted many civilian governments thereby subverting democracy. Since authoritarianism is a major characteristic of military regimes, military hegemony affects all facets of development including political, economic, social well-being, and modernization. While various dimensions of underdevelopment in Third World countries have been addressed in the literature, the relationship between military burden and economic development, social well-being, and modernization has not been thoroughly investigated.; This dissertation examines the influence of two measures of military burden on economic development, social well-being, and modernization in selected Third World nations. Three basic hypotheses derived from two competing theories of development are examined. The modernization perspective hypothesizes positive effects of military expenditures on the level of economic development of emerging nations, on social well-being, and on overall modernization. The social well-being perspective on the other hand postulates negative effects of military burden on all development factors including social well-being, per capita GNP, and modernization.; To examine the hypotheses, multiple analytical strategies which include correlations, Ordinary Least Squares parameter estimation with influential points diagnostics, and recursive path analysis are employed. Since correlations only measure concomitant variation between variables, no causality is implied. The Ordinary Least Squares estimates and recursive causal model are relied upon in testing the hypotheses and in drawing substantive conclusions.; The correlational analyses show military burden to be negatively associated with the log of per capita GNP and Physical Quality of Life Index. The relationship between military burden and per capita energy consumption is unstable over the two time periods examined. Application of Ordinary Least Squares panel regression estimates suggests a model re-specification to avoid specification error. A recursive path analytic model shows clearly that military burden has a significant negative effect on economic development and social well-being, while it has an overall positive effect on modernization. One hypothesis from the modernization perspective found empirical support. Two corollary hypotheses from the social well-being perspective are strongly supported by the findings.