Open AccessNew Technology and the US MIC
Author(s) -
J. Paul Dunne,
Elisabeth Sköns
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the economics of peace and security journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.181
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1749-852X
DOI - 10.15355/epsj.16.2.5
Subject(s) - pentagon , politics , business , defence industry , cold war , emerging technologies , political science , industrial organization , law , economic policy , computer science , artificial intelligence
This article considers what could be a fundamental development in the defence industrial base (DIB) in the US, namely the increased involvement of commercial technology companies in military-related business. After an outline of the dynamics and longer-term post-Cold War developments in the international arms industry, it investigates recent changes in the Pentagon's attitudes and policies to gain access to new technologies from the commercial and academic sectors. It also considers the military, technological and political drivers that have led to these technologies being sought from commercial companies for military use. It then considers the recent engagement of the major commercial technology companies in activities for the military sector and what is driving them to take up military contracts. Finally, it considers what these developments imply for the dynamics of the arms industry and the relationships within the DIB and the military industrial complex (MIC).