This book, first published in 1980, presents a comprehensive and detailed look at the problem of international militarisation. It examines the key issues, the meaning of the problem, the international context and the spread of militarism to the Third World, its fast growth and dangerous implications.

Part 1. Introduction Part 2. The Global Dimension 1. Militarism and Militarisation in Contemporary International Relations Marek Thee 2. Militarism: the Issues Today Michael T. Klare 3. The New International Military Order: a Threat to Human Security Jan Øberg Part 3. Meaning of Militarism 4. Militarism, Its Dimensions and Corollaries: an Attempt at Conceptual Clarification Kjell Skjelsbaek 5. Militarism and Underdevelopment Ulrich Albrecht 6. What is Militarism? Ernie Regehr 7. National Security: Propaganda or Legitimate Concern? Robert D. Matthews 8. The Socio-Class Determinants of Militarism Ejub Kučuk 9. The Critique of Militarism in Soviet Studies Julian Lider Part 4. The Military in the Third World 10. Militarism Dynamics in the Contemporary Context of Periphery Capitalism Dieter Senghaas 11. Militarisation and Human Rights in the Third World Richard Falk 12. The Significance of Military Technology Mary H. Kaldor 13. Arms Trade and Transfer of Military Technology to Third World Countries Signe Landgren-Bäckström 14. Arms Transfers and Dependency in the Third World Miles D. Wolpin 15. Local Wars 1945-76 Itsvan Kende 16. The Military Expenditures of Less Developed Nations as a Proportion of their State Budgets: a Research Note Milton Leitenberg and Nicole Ball Part 5. Legal, Social and Cultural Spheres 17. Militarisation with a Global Reach: a Challenge to Sovereignty, Security and the International Legal Order Asbjørn Eide 18. The Causes and Correlates of Western Militarism William Eckhardt 19. Militarism: Cultural Dimensions of Militarisation Malvern Lumsden Part 6. Appendices Appendix 1. World Military Expenditures Appendix 2. World-Wide Military Coups since 1945: a Short Note on Data Collection Appendix 3. Threats of the Use of Nuclear Weapons Since World War II: an Introductory Note