Noneconomic Factors in the Institutionalization of the Cold War

Abstract

The problem of converting world-war industry to peacetime enterprise is being seriously posed for the first time since the outbreak of World War II. Thus far, the cen ter of concern has been the economic feasibility of the transition process for an industrial complex. There are also noneco nomic factors which produce a lag between technical know-how for the reconversion process and the practical implementation of steps toward industrial reconversion. Five major noneco nomic deterrents are: absence of consciousness of the problem of conversion; rise of new industrial activities heavily depend ent upon continuation of arms spending; belief in armaments as a bulwark of social solidarity; acculturation to patterns of secrecy and coercion; fear that industrial reconversion would lead to deterioration of the Western alliance. Under critical examination, these factors prove to be insubstantial. How ever, disarmament and conversion to peacetime industrial poli cies would have to be phased in sociologically as well as eco nomically. A policy of heavy arms expenditures has gener ated profound social and political disorientation. No major shifts in the production orientation of American industry will occur until doubts about the future of the American economy are either assuaged or overcome by still greater trepidations about the future of the human community as such.