The Economics of Killing by Vijay Mehta

‘Everyone who cares about the future must read this ground-breaking book.’ - Richard Falk, Princeton University

‘This book is a must read for all peace-seekers.’ - Arun Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi

Globalization has created an interconnected world, but has not diminished violence and militarism. The Economics of Killing describes how the power of global elites, entrenched under globalization, has created a deadly cycle of violence.

In this groundbreaking work, Vijay Mehta shows how attempts at peaceful national development are routinely blocked by Western powers. He centers the 2008 financial crisis in US attempts to block China’s model of development. He shows how Europe and the US conspire with regional dictators to prevent countries from developing advanced industries, and how this system has fed terrorism. Mehta argues that a different world is possible, based on policies of disarmament, demilitarization, and sustainable development.

This original and thought-provoking book will be of great interest to anyone concerned about the consequences of endless war fueled by the West.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgements

• Introduction

Part I: Military Industrial Complex – Power, Myths, Facts And Figures

1. How the West’s Addiction to Arms Sales Caused the 2008 Structural Financial Crisis

2. What is the Military Industrial Complex?

3. The Culture of Militarism and Global North’s Power of Definition

4. Europe and the Remaking of the Middle East

Part II: Military Spending and its Ill Effects

5. Negative Effects of Conflicts on Global, Human Security, Refugees, Forced Migrations and Urbanisation

6. War and its Ill Effects on Health, Environment and Development

Part III: The Folly of Chronic Wars – For Profit, Resources and Domination – More Weapons – More Wars – More Profits

7. Terrorism and Non-State Actors, and How to Make Them Stop

8. China’s Periphery – The Military-Industrial Mess That Could Destroy a Bright Future

9. The Emerging Conflicts – Other Future Fault-lines of the World

Part IV: A New Vision, A New Beginning in a New Millennium – A Practical Way of Reducing Arms, Armies and Wars for the Survival of Humanity

10. Averting Disaster – What Type of Global Security Architecture Fits in Today’s World?

11. Replacing Military Industrial Complex – Making the 21st Century the Century of Soft Power

• Epilogue: The Path Ahead