see



What do you think when you look at this? Some suggestions:

1. ZOMG, countries are spending more on their military
2. spending has increased in real terms, but decreased relative to world GDP
3. if China reported half of what it really spends the curve would shoot up a lot faster

a. We're all safer than ever
b. We're probably as safe as we've ever been
c. WWIII, it's just around the corner

My thoughts are along the lines of 3 and b. Overall, I'm honestly kind of disappointed that the cold war hasn't "thawed" as much as it should have since it "ended".

3/18/2008 2:41:47 AM

Seeing as this only tracks from 88 to now... I really don't see much of an indication of anything, other than the fact that the 90s lacked any major wars to speak of.

Quote :

"1. ZOMG, countries are spending more on their military"

I actually see countries spending less on their military, given the '88 figures. Would very much like to see data from earlier years, though.

3/18/2008 3:16:12 AM

Haha, I spent a lot of time with an analyst from SIPRI a few weeks back at the 5th Worldwide Security Conference. Its interesting to see their material here since I wasnt previously familiar with them despite being based near where I live.

3/18/2008 6:11:38 AM

where'd 1991 go?

3/18/2008 8:55:23 AM

Part of it, I'm sure, is due to the increasing complexity and cost of defense systems.

3/18/2008 10:10:49 AM

Given that this is being measured in constant dollars, I don't think it indicates nearly as severe a growth in military spending as implied. The rapid growth in complexity of new weapons system and economic prosperity in Eastern Asia is also contributing: the latter because many of the nations now have the disposable income to conduct real military upgrades. China is modernizing its C4I and increasing pensions, the South Koreans are buying amphibious assault carriers and modernizing its MBT, the Japanese are hunting for 5th generation aircraft, and Taiwan is buying just about any weapon it can get its hands on. (Outside Taiwan) no real direct threat is driving any of these purchases beyond the fact that these nations now actually have the money to modernize their armed forces.

That doesn't even go into India, Venezuela, Columbia, the Russians, oil-rich Middle Eastern states, and other nations who are also throwing a lot more money into rebuilding and modernizing for various reasons.

Dunno about the numbers, but for the letters, I'd say (b).

3/18/2008 5:39:04 PM

Quote :

"where'd 1991 go?"

1991, the world military spending was $23 ZOMGillion dollar bucks due to the Gulf War... the scale on the y-axis is inadequate to show the point corresponding to 1991.

3/18/2008 5:54:12 PM

^^ I largely agree with this. Modernization of military really is a good thing. In some cases it even advances technology that gets used in other areas. And yeah, by point number 2, saying that it has been "increasing" is simply naive.

Now for more hot linked graphs:



China has been increasing spending significantly, and official numbers hardly represent this.

BUT



The first graph in this thread is mostly a reflection of U.S. policy. That's about it. We dwarf everyone else in sheer quantity.

[Edited on March 18, 2008 at 6:25 PM. Reason : note: i see i contradicted something said in my first post, cookie to whoever finds it]

3/18/2008 6:22:38 PM

i wonder what kinda stuff china gets for their military

3/18/2008 6:24:12 PM

Quote :

"he first graph in this thread is mostly a reflection of U.S. policy. That's about it. We dwarf everyone else in sheer quantity."

we spend more to show that we are USA #1 and we are bad ass with cool weapons to blow you up if you disagree with us.

3/18/2008 6:34:21 PM

"Do not tell me your priorities. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you your priorities."

Why does each American require about 18.5 times as much money for protection as the average Chinese citizen?

[Edited on March 18, 2008 at 8:52 PM. Reason : ...]

3/18/2008 8:46:02 PM

because we just love freedom that much?

3/18/2008 9:03:32 PM

More graphs:

Military expenditure percent of GDP


Also, if you put the EU in there, we don't seem all THAT bad


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

also see, top by % of GDP:
* N. Korea (surprise surprise...)
* Oman (it's in the middle east)
* Qatar (also in the middle east)
* Saudi Arabia (wha, wha, whaaa)
* Iraq

WTG middle east

3/18/2008 9:09:57 PM