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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Military budgets, underdevelopment and dependency
Author:Nauwelaerts, P.
Year:1989
Periodical:Afrika Focus
Volume:5
Issue:1-2
Pages:5-20
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subjects:public expenditure
defence
underdevelopment
External link:https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v5i1-2.6480
Abstract:Military expenditures are considered to be one of the causes of underdevelopment in Africa. This article shows that relatively small military expenditures may have large consequences, e.g. external debt and scarcity of foreign exchange. Developing nations have had surprisingly little difficulty in obtaining credits for military purposes, although these investments are nonproductive. One of the consequences of external debt is the dependency of Third World countries on the Western world. Military dependency can take different forms: dependency of a country buying arms from only one supplier; arms supply in exchange for raw materials exports; military dependency leading to economic dependency; and the interdependence of two countries. After a discussion of the role of armament in economic development, the author concludes that, although military expenses can have a stabilizing effect for the economy, Africa remains dependent on the Western world and arms trade has increased this dependency. Ref., sum.
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