Chapter 1 Introduction

Abstract

The current study is an extension of the PF model research program that began after the Great Depression in the early 1930s. The purpose of the study is to introduce political dimensions to the PF defense-growth model and to assess the impact of political and conflict variables on EG. The study theorizes that excluding political factors from the PF defense-growth model hampers any realistic explanation of the problems of EG; that the influences of economic and military variables and their externalities effects vary across different political contexts; that political factors are at least as important as economic factors in determining the outcome of EG; that intrastate and interstate conflicts have differential effects on EG (both types of conflicts have negative effects on EG; however, intrastate conflicts have more damaging effects on growth than do interstate conflicts); and that the impact of conflicts on EG differs across regions.

Citation

Attar, R. (2009), "Chapter 1 Introduction", Attar, R.A. (Ed.) Arms and Conflict in the Middle East (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 13), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-8323(2009)0000013003