In what ways do domestic political constituencies—such as military–industrial complexes, strategic bureaucracies, nationalist political coalitions, and security-oriented epistemic communities—shape and sustain state preferences for heightened defence expenditures, and how do their institutional interests cumulatively contribute to the perpetuation of international arms races despite formal arms-control initiatives? Provide a critical evaluation drawing on theoretical and empirical insights from international political economy and strategic studies.

Domestic Constituencies, Institutional Interests and the Persistence of Arms Races Introduction Explaining why states continue to prize high defence expenditures — and why international arms-control agreements often stumble or unravel — requires moving beyond unitary-state, system-level accounts of the security dilemma to a richer political-economy analysis. Defence budgets are not only instruments of external security; … Continue reading In what ways do domestic political constituencies—such as military–industrial complexes, strategic bureaucracies, nationalist political coalitions, and security-oriented epistemic communities—shape and sustain state preferences for heightened defence expenditures, and how do their institutional interests cumulatively contribute to the perpetuation of international arms races despite formal arms-control initiatives? Provide a critical evaluation drawing on theoretical and empirical insights from international political economy and strategic studies.

What are the socio-economic impacts of the global arms race on developing and developed societies, and what structural, political, and institutional challenges impede the advancement of comprehensive disarmament in the contemporary international system?

The Socio-Economic Consequences of the Global Arms Race and the Obstacles to Comprehensive Disarmament in the Contemporary International Order Introduction The global arms race—marked by the relentless accumulation, modernization, and proliferation of conventional and nuclear weapons—continues to shape international relations, geopolitical rivalries, and domestic political economies. While the Cold War era institutionalized arms competition between … Continue reading What are the socio-economic impacts of the global arms race on developing and developed societies, and what structural, political, and institutional challenges impede the advancement of comprehensive disarmament in the contemporary international system?