Delta of Power: The Military-Industrial Complex

The Military-Industrial Complex, first named by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address, was tailored to develop and produce military technologies equal to the existential threat perceived to be posed by the Soviet Union. Today, although total US spending on national security exceeds $1 trillion a year, it accounts for a smaller percentage of the federal budget, the national GDP, and world military spending than during the Cold War. Alex Roland's book "Delta of Power" tells the comprehensive history of the MIC from 1961, the Cold War, and the War on Terror, to the present day. He argues that the MIC is now significantly different than it was when Eisenhower warned of its dangers, still exerting a significant but diminished influence in American life. Roland addresses five critical realms of transformation: civil-military relations, relations between industry and the state, among government agencies, between scientific-technical communities and the state, and between technology and society. He also tracks the way in which America's arsenal has evolved since 1991.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 10 August 2021
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

The Military-Industrial Complex, as initially coined by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address, was a predominantly American phenomenon during the Cold War. Its primary objective was to develop and produce military technologies capable of countering the perceived existential threat posed by the Soviet Union. This complex entailed an informal yet robust relationship between the military and industry, where the MIC relentlessly pursued and won a qualitative, technological arms race. However, this pursuit came at a significant cost, as it resulted in waste, fraud, and abuse.

Today, although total US spending on national security exceeds $1 trillion annually, it represents a smaller percentage of the federal budget, the national GDP, and world military spending compared to the era of the Cold War. Given this reality, one must ask: Is the MIC as we commonly understand it still alive? If so, how has it changed in the intervening years?

In his book "Delta of Power," Alex Roland offers a comprehensive historical account of the MIC, spanning from 1961, the Cold War, and the War on Terror to the present day. Roland argues that the MIC has undergone significant transformations since Eisenhower's warning, although it still exerts a substantial but diminished influence on American life. The book focuses particularly on the three decades since the end of the Cold War in 1991, examining how a lack of cohesion, rapid change, and historical contingency have reshaped America's military-industrial institutions and infrastructure.

Roland addresses five critical realms of transformation: civil-military relations, the interactions between industry and the state, among government agencies, between scientific-technical communities and the state, and the relationship between technology and society. He also tracks the evolving nature of America's arsenal, including the development of new weapons systems, the rise.

In conclusion, while the Military-Industrial Complex has undergone significant changes since the end of the Cold War, it remains an important aspect of American political and economic life. Roland's book "Delta of Power" provides a valuable insight into the complex dynamics and transformations that have shaped the MIC over the past several decades, shedding light on its enduring influence and its impact on American society.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 183 x 215 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421441818