The dynamic development of mankind in the last half century has replenished dictionaries with many terms denoting a huge number of new concepts. One of these terms is militarization. It describes the phenomenon by no means new, but manifested itself especially vividly in this period. The work of eminent political scientists, sociologists, and historians tells about what militarization is. But what is the essence of this phenomenon?
At its core, militarization is the process of changing and adapting the economy, science, social, social, political and other spheres of a country's life to the concepts of militarism. Militarism is a state ideology. Its main doctrine is the building up of military potential, the constant improvement of weapons, the development of military art. At the same time, militarism largely justifies the predominant use of military force in resolving foreign policy, and often internal conflicts.
The terms "militarism" (derived from the French militarisme - military) and "militarization" arose in the mid-19th century. They characterized the state of affairs in France caused by the regime of government and the policies of Napoleon III. These words firmly entered the vocabulary of political scientists and historians towards the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when economic, political and territorial contradictions between the leading capitalist powers came to the stage of open military confrontation. The militarization of the economies, social and political structures of many countries during this period was at an unprecedented pace.
Globally, militarization as a process has a very dual significance for the state in which it occurs. Its main feature is the transfer of the economy to the military track to ensure the growth of military potential, which leads to successful competition in the arms race. On the one hand, this leads to a constant increase in budget expenditures for the military-industrial complex and the maintenance of a large army and armaments, which is the reason for the decrease in funds allocated for the development of cultural, social and public spheres of life. On the other hand, militarization extremely stimulates research and design activities in many fields of science and technology (from mechanics to electronics, nuclear physics and information theory).
Summarizing, we can say that militarization is the process of penetration of military ideology into all spheres of the country's life, the transfer of its economy, political ideology, most scientific and technical directions to the military track. Militarization stimulates scientific and technological progress, but at the same time it rapidly depletes the internal resources of the state, and impedes the harmonious existence and comprehensive development of its social, cultural and social traditions.
