Dynamics of Defence Budget

Byline: Col Dr Muhammad Khan - Email: drmk_edu@yahoomail.com As per the Realist School of Thought, the international system is essentially based on power politics. The agents of the international system, the states, always aspires to acquire power. The most significant and the tangible element of the power is the hard military power, though, economy of a country plays a significant role in its attainment. Classical realists strongly believe that, relations between states are determined by their levels of power derived primarily from their military and economic capabilities. Under the hostile global environment, power and national interest are crucial for the survival of a state. To attain these, a state has to help itself with the aim to ensure its safety and survival rather depending on other states or institutions, may it be the United Nations Organization. In this entire episode, a state has to augment its own power capability through military arms build-up for its ultimate survival or to achieve a balance of power vis-a-vis its adversary.