Investing more in military could increase chances of conflict, say experts.

Some experts think investing in a nation’s military could increase the chances of an armed conflict. 

In international relations, a “security dilemma” is when the improvement of the military capabilities of a nation leads to heightened tensions with other nations who develop capabilities of their own. 

David Dewitt, a professor in the department of politics at York University, said increasing a nation’s military capabilities does not necessarily increase its security. 

“When you [as a country] feel militarily threatened, you will seek enhanced military capabilities. You will invest in new weapons,” said Dewitt. “Of course, this will then signal to the country you feel threatened by to do the same. Either that, or they will preempt so they can attack you before you get those weapons.”  

Coined by U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in his farewell address, the term “military-industrial complex” is defined as a symbiotic relationship between a nation’s military and its defense industry. The military upholds the security of a nation while the defense industry that sustains it provides benefits to that nation such as employment, tax revenue and technological advancement.  

Dewitt also said while a country’s military-industrial complex may not create tensions, it does affect relations with other nations. 

“Are tensions created by those industries? Probably not,” said Dewitt. “Are they exacerbated by the military industries? Probably yes.” 

Aaron Hoffman is an associate professor of political science at Simon Fraser University who said rivalries with other nations could be a political gain.  

“In the United States, rivalry with China has become a political issue. An issue that politicians try to use to their electoral advantage in ways that it hadn’t been previously,” said Hoffman. “There are domestic consequences to a lot of these rivalries.”  

Hoffman also said a military-industrial complex may need an enemy in order to maintain itself. 

“It might be the case that a military-industrial complex needs an enemy in order to maintain itself as an industry,” said Hoffman. “But it doesn’t need a particular enemy.” 

The doomsday clock symbolizes the possibility of a man-made catastrophe. The closer the clock is to midnight, the higher the possibility of an extinction-level war with midnight signifying the end of humanity. Every year, the clock is set by the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The clock was two minutes away from midnight in 2019. 

The doomsday clock was set to 100 seconds before midnight this year, the closest it has ever been. This is partly because of the American and Russian withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which limits the missile and nuclear capabilities of both nations.