U.S. Monopoly on Global Weapons Trade

The 19th and 20th centuries have been the centuries of monopoly capitalism. As we move into the 21st century, there is a new cultural and economic phenomenon arising: monopoly militarism. That is the subject this case study attempts to explore “ U.S. monopoly on the militarization of the world” . The Global arms trade can effectively be referred to as “the global weapons monopoly."

Cold war and after
During cold war days, the United States did have a major competitor. For instance, the Congressional Research Service's data for 1990, the last year of the Soviet Union's existence, shows global weapons sales totaling $32.7 billion, with the United States accounting for $12.1 billion of that or 37% of the market. For its part, the Soviet Union was responsible for a competitive $10.7 billion in deals inked that year. France, China, and the United Kingdom accounted for most of the rest.
However in 2008, according to report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), $55.2 billion in weapons deals were concluded worldwide. Of that total, the United States was responsible for $37.8 billion in weapons sales agreements, or 68.4% of the total "trade." US agreements with all of its customers include not only sales of very costly major weapons systems, but also the upgrading and the support of systems previously provided. The arms agreements involving a wide variety of items such as spare parts, ammunition, ordnance, training, and support services can have significant costs associated with them.
2008 Global Weapons Trade
When one nation accounts for nearly 70% of weapons sales, the term "global arms trade" should effectively be replaced by Global Weapons Monopoly.

Foundation for Monopoly – Military spending
It starts with technology. The United States has a budget for military research and development, for developing new weapons and new military equipment for intelligence and control. The budget just for...
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