Studies in the political economy and economic impact of British defence expenditure and American military aid to Britain, 1945-1955
This dissertation examines political aspects and the economic impact of the British defence effort during the period of the first cold war (1945-1955). The study consists of nine case studies which are grouped under three headings - Studies in the Political Economy of British Defence Expenditure, Studies in the Economic Impact of British Defence Expenditure, and Studies in the Political Economy of American Military Aid to Britain. These case studies stress the historical contingent nature of the British defence effort reflecting the experience of the second world war. Aware of the country's military and economic vulnerability, policy-makers remained determined to maintain a global presence and a high level of military preparedness. However, policy-makers failed to assess critically whether this policy was appropriate for the nuclear age and the cold war. As a consequence, the governments' foreign and defence policy imposed considerable costs on the economy and society. For example, its defence procurement policy led to subsidising under-employed defence production capacity in order to preserve the military production base for another global war. During the Korean war the commitment to this defence procurement
Geiger, Till
History
Studies in the political economy and economic impact of British defence expenditure and American military aid to Britain, 1945-1955. This dissertation examines political aspects and the economic impact of the British defence effort during the period of the first cold war (1945-1955). The study consists of nine case studies which are grouped under three headings - Studies in the Political Economy of British Defence Expenditure, Studies in the Economic Impact of British Defence Expenditure, and Studies in the Political Economy of American Military Aid to Britain. These case studies stress the historical contingent nature of the British defence effort reflecting the experience of the second world war. Aware of the country's military and economic vulnerability, policy-makers remained determined to maintain a global presence and a high level of military preparedness. However, policy-makers failed to assess critically whether this policy was appropriate for the nuclear age and the cold war. As a consequence, the governments' foreign and defence policy imposed considerable costs on the economy and society. For example, its defence procurement policy led to subsidising under-employed defence production capacity in order to preserve the military production base for another global war. During the Korean war the commitment to this defence procurement
studies political_economy economic impact british defence expenditure american military aid britain examines political aspect economic impact british defence effort period first cold_war study_consist case_study group heading studies political_economy british defence expenditure studies economic impact british defence expenditure studies political_economy american military aid britain case_study stress historical contingent nature british defence effort reflect experience second_world_war aware country military_economic vulnerability policy_makers remain determined maintain global presence high_level military however policy_makers fail assess critically whether policy appropriate nuclear age cold_war consequence government foreign defence policy impose considerable cost economy_society example defence procurement policy_lead under employed defence production capacity order preserve military production base another global war korean_war commitment defence procurement