3155+Business+and+war


 * PSC 3155 Business & Public Policy Fall 2008 (Dr. Howard)**

Our objective is to find out what role businesses play in war—and what role war plays in generating business profits more generally. This involves two separate lines of inquiry: sales and purchases of military hardware and software, and the use of corporate contractors in wartime or in support of military action. Obviously the record of Halliburton and Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan are of recent interest, but we need not limit ourselves to these. On the arms trade, students may wish to browse the CRS report: “[|Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations] “ and the __CQ Researcher__ report: “ [|Arms Sales] Should the U.S. cut its weapons exports?” (December 9, 1994) [available through Temples Library electronic resources] On the role of for-profit companies during wartime, students should read “Privatizing the Military,” __CQ Researcher,__ Vol 14, No. 24, June 25, 2004, pages 565-588 [available online through Temple Library electronic resources] Participating students should take one of the following questions. Please email me with your choice.
 * Seminar on Business and War, Friday November 14**
 * 1) The defense sector
 * 2) In all, how much money does the federal government spend buying hardware and services from defense contractors?
 * 3) Who are the major providers of military services to the United States, and what do they provide? What sums of money are involved in private military and security services contracting, and how profitable is it?
 * 4) What sums of money are involved in America’s overseas arms trade? What are the major companies involved? To whom, and what, do American defense companies sell overseas?
 * 5) What are the arguments for using civilian military contractors in support of military operations?
 * 6) What are the arguments against using civilian military contractors in support of military operations?
 * Other sources **
 * The Financial Times and Washington Post have covered this topic extensively. Please search Lexis-Nexis for Financial Times and Access World News for Washington Post articles to help your inquiries.
 * Please also search Congressional committee websites for reports and testimony from hearings on the issue, especially on Blackwater and Halliburton
 * The various ‘public interest’ groups who are hostile to corporate activities have material. In particular, see CorpWatch ( [|www.corpwatch.org] ) also monitors these issues from a hostile perspective.
 * It would be interesting as well to hear an industry perspective on these issues.