The Military Industrial Complex On Foreign Policy Decision...

In his farewell address to the nation in 1961, President Eisenhower warned the country of the â€Å"acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex† (Eisenhower 1961). Despite being a warning from so long ago, time has vindicated Eisenhower’s words. From the time of Eisenhower to present day, the United States has seen an unprecedented growth of the power, size, and influence of the military industrial complex. Today, the military industrial complex exerts great pressure on the foreign policy decision making process of the United States government. This sad state of affairs is the result of a multitude of factors, including iron triangles and issue networks, as well as the foreign policy bureaucracies that serve as actors within these paradigms. In order to fully understand the influence of the military industrial complex on foreign policy decision making, one must first understand the role of the foreign policy burea ucracies in our government. Bureaucratic agencies in the government such as the State Department, Department of Defense, are the primary architects of foreign policy. Of course, the President cannot be the one making the decisions for each and every minutiae of foreign policy. Having bureaucracies in charge of decision making has several advantages. They tend to be extremely efficient, and are capable of functioning independently on a daily basis. Foreign policy bureaucracies are able to become extremelyShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Cyber Security1258 Words   |  6 Pagesgovernment is weak and incapacitated on the world stage, making us dependent upon the very people who wish to annihilate us. 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