Defence Conversion Research Articles

Swords to Ploughshares: China’s Defence Conversion Policy

This article seeks to explain China’s defence conversion programme. There are inherent structural difficulties encountered in the beating of swords into ploughshares. China sought to resolve problems associated with its defence‐conversion programme with grand strategic planning involving concerted efforts from all three pillars of power ‐‐ the party, the state and the army. A review of the defence‐conversion programme suggests that the role of the military can be extended to encompass non‐traditional missions during peacetime in order to reduce the burden on the national economy of defence spending, not only by diversification out of defence production but also by integration of the armed forces into more development‐oriented activities.

NATO and the transatlantic alliance in the 21st century: the twenty-year crisis

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Foreword Introduction and Prologue: The End of Total War? The Art of Defence Planning The European Defence and Security Debate: The Last Fifty Years The Origins and Development of Atlanticism Neo-Atlanticism: Renewing the Relationship The Decline of the Western European Union NATO's Expansion: The End of the Beginning of Collective Defence? Collective Security or Collective Defence? The Driving Forces and Pre-Determined Elements Post Gaullist Realism and the Reality of Alliance French Defence Firms in Transition Britain's Defence Diversification Dilemma Germany's Unique Conversion Opportunity: Taming a Two-headed Monster The US President and Defence Priorities Leadership and Defence Conversion? Peace Advocates and Trade Unions: Defence Restructuring's Unlikely Alliance Defending Conversion in Congress During the Clinton-Gore Administration The Future of International Terrorism: The Scourge of the twenty-first Century Conclusions: Towards a Multi-polar and Multi-nuclear World Index

An Interactive Economic Policy Approach to Manage Structural Change: The case of industry conversion in the German state of Bremen

The present paper deals with (1) the regional experience of a severe and sudden structural change sometimes faced by regions and cities which display considerable industrial specialisation, and (2) a proactive regional economic policy response: it offers a theoretical explanation of this policy and discusses the basic philosophy behind it, the agents involved, the instruments it employs and its effects. The German state (Land) of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is a port and industry centre that has not only had considerable experience of industrial decline, but also of proactive industrial policy involvement. In addition, being the centre of the defence industry in northern Germany, Bremen experienced dramatic structural change due to the disarmament process that occurred during the 1990s. Bremen's industrial defence conversion approach has been widely considered as a case for further developing network forms of regional economic policy and for a managed industrial diversification strategy. It has indeed developed as a way to manage industrial change during the last ten years. This paper will discuss (1) the basic industrial problem; (2) some background conditions needed for success; (3) the approach and instruments developed; (4) the results obtained; and (5) a theoretical consideration on the basis of the experience.

Secrets of success and failure in commercialising US government R&D laboratory technologies: a structured case study approach

With the end of the Cold War, the US government started encouraging defence conversion and commercialisation activities. Although currently highly contested in the political arena for their tangible short-term economic benefits, these activities have fostered multiple high-tech government-university-industry partnerships and helped shape regions of emerging clusters of high-tech entrepreneurship, such as the Rio Grande Technology Corridor in the south-western United States, where Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories are located, or the Austin, Texas technopolis. This paper studies, compares and contrasts case studies of high-tech strategic alliances, spin-offs, CRADAs, and other related modalities of technology transfer and commercialisation. It aims to enhance the understanding of the role and potential of a case study to produce powerful new "performance metrics" which could complement structured, quantitative metrics in a hybrid approach to assessing and reengineering technology transfer and commercialisation efforts. It could further lead towards the formulation of an effective mid-range theory for technology transfer and commercialisation combining micro-level with macro-level elements and concepts.

Great expectations: Russian defence conversion†

Conversion of defence industries is neither simple in concept nor execution. While many wish to paint a rosy future and extol the costless benefits, pragma‐tists stress the real and nominal disincentives to converting. Regarding the process in Russia, we outline what is involved and show that long‐term obstacles remain. Conversion is not a state of nature, nor can it be imposed by domestic or international actors. Rather, it is a process, evolving from the new realities of the post‐Cold War world.

Defence conversion: surviving (and prospering) in the 1990s

The fall of the Iron Curtain ushered in a new era of peace as the Cold War came to a close. However, to defence industry companies, this “peace dividend” has translated into vast reductions in military spending, presenting a challenge to their very survival. Aware of the failed attempts at defence conversion following the Second World War and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, firms are taking a more intelligent approach to conversion, utilizing a variety of strategies based on their relative strengths and weaknesses. Some are divesting, while others are in an acquisition mode, and still others are seeking to exploit their core technologies in the commercial marketplace. And, in a twist of fate unthinkable ten years ago, Russia has become a major partner in the defence conversion process.

Conversion and the defence industrial base: Facing post‐cold war realities

The image of beating sords into ploughshares is an ancient and powerful one which post‐Cold War has signalled an important and ongoing debate within the military‐industrial environment. In dealing with this complex subject. Michael Seagrim examines the why what and how of defence conversion, clearly defining the pros and cons of the process. With an economy expected to grow at two per cent per annum as a percentage of GDP defence expenditure will have declained from 5.3 per cent in 1984, to an estimated 2.8 per cent for 1997–98. Within this framework, Mr. Seagrim outlines three major Models for DIB conversion concluding that for companies to survive through this period of shrinking capacity. In the global armaments industry, some levels of conversion will be necessary. The most likely stimulus will be the facility of flexible production methods, especially of components. With transition never an easy and clear‐cut process, European and British players will have to be flexible within a rationalized value for money environment.

The economics of defence conversion

Disarmament following the end of the `cold war' has led to renewed interest in defence conversion. The simple case for conversion appears attractive. Its advocates claim that firms which have specialised in defence business and are surplus to defence requirements can contribute to the `peace dividend' by transferring their plant and labour force to the production of civil goods and services. Such a solution avoids losing a defence firm's valuable expertise and technical knowledge by applying it to civilian activities and, at the same time, avoiding the dislocations associated with redundancies and plant closures. Here, the author describes how reality is more complex.

Defense economic restructuring and conversion in South Africa

The aim is to examine issues of defence economic restructuring and conversion in South Africa. Under the new government, overall restructuring of the South African defence sector is occuring. With diminished defence expenditure, the military industry is encouraged to convert production capability to non-military products. The geographical implications of defence economic restructuring and conversion in South Africa are analysed in the context of international experience and debates. The Gauteng region emerges as the national ‘gunbelt’ of South Africa and contains an incipient military ‘industrial district’. In this particular region, the question of defence conversion is critically important for local policy makers and should be linked to new local economic development initiatives.

Defence conversion: the westinghouse experience

This pape briefly reviews defence industry trends and how defence contractors are attempting technology conversion, with specific examples.

Justice and human rights: Inspiring Canadian foreign policy

The New Democratic Party (NDP) has called for fundamental changes in national foreign policy priorities to reflect an unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes; a recognition in a world of global economic injustice of the imperative of redistribution of wealth and power; respect for the rights of women, indigenous peoples, and all minorities; and dedication to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The article presents a number of prescriptions. For example, since the United Nations is playing a more important role than ever, and given its financial difficulties, it should be given the ability to borrow funds internationally. In the post‐Cold War period, the article points out that Canada should take the lead in pushing for tighter controls on international arms sales, the creation of an international arms registry and, domestically, that it should create a Defence Conversion office. The NDP advocates a Canadian defence policy based on peacekeeping, the maintenance of sovereignty...