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Adapting to Globalization: Arms Production in Large and Small States
Type
fundamental research project
Start Date
01 December 2009
End Date
28 February 2010
URI
Status
completed
Keywords
security studies
comparative political economy
globalization
arms production
similarities/differences in national adaptation
Description
The objective of our project is to compare how states are adapting to the challenge globalization poses to national defense industries. Arms production is different from most sectors of economic activity insofar as states sponsor research and development, regulate exports and constitute the primary clients of industry. Historically, the omnipresence of the state in arms production created a symbiotic relationship, whereby the state provided companies with a protected market and companies provided the state with a self-sufficient supply of weaponry. The central role of the state in producing arms and the importance of the sector to the overall economy have combined to place arms production between the state and the market.
Today, globalization is posing an unprecedented challenge to the defense sector and threatening the symbiotic relationship between the nation state and national defense industries. The increasing cost of developing weapons and growing internationalization of supply chains are undermining the ability of states to meet their defense needs self-sufficiently. Moreover, the emergence of enormous multi-national defense contractors is rendering state control over armaments increasingly problematic.
Our project examines the following descriptive and explanatory research questions: (1) How do states respond to the globalization of arms production? (2) Why do states pursue similar or different policies? (3) How can we conceptualize the evolving nature of the defense sector in the era of globalization? These questions shall be answered in three steps by a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The first step will test the conventional globalization hypothesis, which holds that states will respond uniformly to new challenges. The second step compares numerous states by a statistical or fuzzy-set analysis. Finally, based on the empirical results, a structured, focused comparison of (purposefully selected) four large and four small states will provide the ultimate answer to our questions. By drawing on a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools, our project will contribute to the development of mid-range theories at the interface of security studies and comparative political economy.
A 'GFF-Grant' will enable us to prepare a comprehensive proposal for the Swiss National Fund (i.e. 'Einzelprojektförderung' or 'D-A-CH-Projektförderung') in March 2010. We also aim to publish an article in one of the field's premier journals, capitalizing on our application of a comparative political economy perspective and quantitative methods to the examination of security studies questions. The conclusions we draw will prove valuable to corporate leaders and policymakers. Ultimately, the research project will strengthen the HSG's profile in International Affairs, reinforce and build new international networks and create funding opportunities for academic research - in particular, at the Ph.D. level.
Today, globalization is posing an unprecedented challenge to the defense sector and threatening the symbiotic relationship between the nation state and national defense industries. The increasing cost of developing weapons and growing internationalization of supply chains are undermining the ability of states to meet their defense needs self-sufficiently. Moreover, the emergence of enormous multi-national defense contractors is rendering state control over armaments increasingly problematic.
Our project examines the following descriptive and explanatory research questions: (1) How do states respond to the globalization of arms production? (2) Why do states pursue similar or different policies? (3) How can we conceptualize the evolving nature of the defense sector in the era of globalization? These questions shall be answered in three steps by a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The first step will test the conventional globalization hypothesis, which holds that states will respond uniformly to new challenges. The second step compares numerous states by a statistical or fuzzy-set analysis. Finally, based on the empirical results, a structured, focused comparison of (purposefully selected) four large and four small states will provide the ultimate answer to our questions. By drawing on a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools, our project will contribute to the development of mid-range theories at the interface of security studies and comparative political economy.
A 'GFF-Grant' will enable us to prepare a comprehensive proposal for the Swiss National Fund (i.e. 'Einzelprojektförderung' or 'D-A-CH-Projektförderung') in March 2010. We also aim to publish an article in one of the field's premier journals, capitalizing on our application of a comparative political economy perspective and quantitative methods to the examination of security studies questions. The conclusions we draw will prove valuable to corporate leaders and policymakers. Ultimately, the research project will strengthen the HSG's profile in International Affairs, reinforce and build new international networks and create funding opportunities for academic research - in particular, at the Ph.D. level.
Leader contributor(s)
Member contributor(s)
Devore, Marc
Weiss, Moritz
Partner(s)
James Davis and Marc DeVore
Funder(s)
Topic(s)
globalization of armaments industries
state adaptation
Method(s)
quantitative and qualitative methods for the resulting SNF project
Range
Institute/School
Range (De)
Institut/School
Division(s)
Eprints ID
61984