Militarism

Militarism expounds that the foundation of a society's security is its military capacity, and claims that the development and maintenance of the military to ensure that capacity is the most important goal for that society. It consists of a preferential positioning of military considerations in policy by a nation or other political entity and preferential treatment for persons involved officially or tangentially with the military in service or supply. Such policy when adopted causes a militarization of the society in relation to other contemporaneous societies as the militarized society exerts its influence and power over them. These influences are most clearly observable in the history of nation-states and empires when they engaged in Imperialism or Expansionism; viz. Empire of Japan, British Empire, Nazi Germany, New Roman Empire of Mussolini, the expansion of the Russian SSFR into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and later reign of Stalin, Iraq during the reign of Saddam Hussein, and the United States during the period of Manifest Destiny and army reform.

National and Imperial Militarism

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German militarism

The area influenced by German nationalism, inherited from the pre-unification Kingdom of Prussia, includes in different circumstances the North German Confederation, Austria, as well as other Nordic factions. This nationalism became the basis for Germany's militarism before and during both world wars. This ideology has not gained wide support in the reunified Germany to date.

Related Topics:
Prussia - North German Confederation - Nordic

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Japanese militarism

In parallel with 20th century Germany's militarism, Japanese militarism began with a series of events by which the military gained prominence in dictating Japan's affairs. With this dictatorial power, Japan invaded China in 1931 and overtook half of Chinese land within 11 years, and finally spread the Second World War to the Pacific by the Pearl Harbor Attack.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Pacific - Pearl Harbor Attack

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US militarism

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries political and military leaders reformed the US state to establish an stronger central government than had ever previously existed for the purpose of enabling the nation to pursue an imperial policy in the Pacific and in the Caribbean and economic militarism to support the development of the new industrial economy. This reform was the result of a conflict between Neo-Hamiltonian Republicans and Jeffersonian-Jacksonian advocates over the proper administration of the state and direction of its foreign policy--between proponents of professionalism based on business management organizations and fuller local control by available figures-including amateurs. After the end of the American Civil War the national army fell into disrepair. Reforms based on various European states including Imperial Britain, Imperial Germany, and Switzerland were made so that it would become responsive to control from the central government, prepared for future conflicts, and develop refined command and support structures; it led to the development of a professional military. During this time the intellectual ideas of Social Darwinism and Social Gospel propelled the development of an American Empire in the Pacific and Caribbean and necessitated extensive efficient central government due to its administration requirements.

Related Topics:
Economic militarism - Jeffersonian - Jacksonian - American Civil War - Social Darwinism - Social Gospel

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The enlargement of the US army for the Spanish-American War was considered essential to the occupation and control of the new territories acquired from Spain in its defeat (Guam, the Philippines, Puerto Rico). The previous limit by legislation of 24 000 men was expanded to 60 000 regulars in the new army bill on 2 February 1901, with allowance at that time for expansion to 80 000 regulars by presidential discretion at times of national emergency.

Related Topics:
Spanish-American - Guam - Philippines - Puerto Rico

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