Militarism, the UK Economy and Conversion Policies in the North

Abstract

This chapter looks briefly at the historical background to militarism and its role in the United Kingdom (UK) economy. It focuses on the importance attached to technological capabilities as well as attempts to reorientate government industrial policy and research priorities from the military to the civil. As defence and military concepts of security decline in importance for civil society it should be possible to raise the profile of common security with its emphasis on environmental and developmental priorities, coupled to a programme of arms conversion with which to maximize the potential for the release of resources from the military to the pressing needs of civil economic reconstruction. The idea that, historically, UK government policy can be characterized by a commitment to this form of technological militarism is a highly controversial one. The most comprehensive policy for conversion was begun by the Gorbachev leadership in the former Soviet Union.