THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AS A DRIVER OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC GROWTH AMIDST THE SECURITY CRISIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36074/grail-of-science.17.04.2026.048Keywords:
defence industry, economic growth, security in Europe, defence contracts, investment, the economies of Poland and GermanySummary
In this paper, we have examined how the current security crisis has forced Europe to take a fresh look at its defence industry. Whereas the military was previously viewed merely as an expense, today it is becoming a genuine driver of the economy. We have analysed how investment in weapons helps to boost GDP and create new jobs, using Poland and Germany as examples. The article also addresses the risks: we have sought to determine whether excessive militarisation might harm other areas of life, such as education or the environment, and whether Europe will be able to maintain stability in the long term.
Downloads
Downloads
References
Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014-2025).
NATO Public Diplomacy Division. 2025. 18 p. URL: https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/finance/def-exp-2025-en.pdf
SIPRI Yearbook 2025: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Oxford University Press, 2025. 580 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sipri/9780198979791.002.0008
The future of European defense and security / McKinsey & Company. Our Insights. 2023. URL:https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/aerospace-and-defense/our-insights/the-future-of-european-defense-and-security
White Paper on European defence readiness: 2030 / European Commission. Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space. 2024. URL: https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/white-paper-european-defence-readiness-2030_en
Military Expenditure and the Fiscal Multiplier in the EU. IMF Working Papers. 2026. No. 26/04. 45 p. The New Defence Imperative / European Defence Agency. European Defence Matters. 2024. Issue 26. URL: https://eda.europa.eu/publications-and-data/magazines/magazine-cover/the-new-defence-imperative