the military-industrial complex

The military-industrial complex
(Coordinator Comment)

Over the past century, state militarism has been greatly expanded and strengthened by its alliance with a major branch of industry, the military-industrial complex. As military expenditures have increased, the military-industrial complex has become engaged with the state as a powerful lobby for the maintenance and strengthening of military force and the culture of war that goes with it.

In the United States it has become such an integral part of government that it has come to be called the "military-industrial-congressional complex". This is described in some detail in The History of the Culture of War.

The military-industrial-congressional complex has become a driving force for the culture of war in and of itself, as it has come to provide the power base for the political leadership in the United States. The military-industrial complex has reinforced the culture of war in smaller countries as well

Although it is not usually included in the military-industrial complex, one should probably consider in this context the global drugs-for-guns trade, which, although seldom discussed, involves the highest levels of the state.