Impact of Military Spending on African Development

Abstract

There has been a disturbing increasing trend in the allocation of resources world-wide for military purposes due to increase and wide spread of terrorism. Terrorism has spread even to areas that were hitherto regarded as ‘save havens’. However, given the relatively low level of economic development in developing countries in general and African countries in particular, the burden of high military spending has been heavy. The observable trend in increased militarization in terms of the total resources used for military purposes has become a major concern to both the African governments and the citizens. This was because of the pressing problems of growing food shortage, population explosion, decreasing stock of non-renewable natural resources, rural-urban migration and economic recession. Hence the need to focus attention on the underlying developmental challenges such excessive military expenditure is posing to the developmental needs of African countries. Thus, this article examined the trend of military expenditure in Africa, consequences of high military expenses, and established that militarization was antithetical to development because it was a usurper of resources needed for development.