Captives of the Cold War economy : the struggle for defense conversion in American communities / John J. Accordino.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Accordino, John J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Military base conversion--United States.

Military base conversion.

Economic conversion--United States.

Economic conversion.

Defense industries--United States.

Defense industries.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (223 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, c2000.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The end of the Cold War in 1989 gave rise to hopes for a new, more peaceful international system and for the redirection of military expenditures-over one-half of annual U.S. federal discretionary spending-toward education and health care, renewing the nation's infrastructure, environmental mitigation, and alternative energy sources. At the beginning of the 21st Century, U.S. military spending remains stuck at 85% of the Cold War average. Why? As Accordino explains, at the federal level, the Iron Triangle comprised of the Pentagon, defense contractors, and a conservative Congress maintained defense spending at Cold War levels, encouraging contractors to stay focused on defense. When some procurement cutbacks and base closures occurred, growth interests recruited lower-wage branch plants, sports, and entertainment facilities, rather than supporting the hard work of defense conversion that creates higher-paying jobs. Nevertheless, some defense contractors and community interests did embrace conversion, showing remarkable potential. Of particular interest to scholars and researchers involved with urban and regional planning, public administration and local politics, and regional economic development.

Contents:

Cover

CAPTIVES OF the COLD WAR ECONOMY

Contents

Maps

Preface

NOTES

1 The National Context: Defense Spending and Conversion Policy in the 1990s

THE COSTS OF THE COLD WAR

THE PROMISE OF CONVERSION

DEFENSE CUTBACKS AND NATIONAL ADJUSTMENT POLICIES

Base Closings

Conversion versus Deficit Reduction

The Clinton Conversion Policies

DEEPER CAUSES: DEFENSE ADDICTION

The Iron Triangle

Defense as Industrial Policy in a Laissez-Faire Society

Military Ideology

MIXED NATIONAL SIGNALS AND LOCAL RESPONSES

2 The Community Context: Development Interests and Economic Dependency

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS

BUSINESS INTERESTS

Local Growth Interests

Export-Oriented Businesses

Pittsburgh as a Paradigm Case

Local Growth and Export Businesses in Accord

Challengers of Traditional Business Interests

LOCAL INTERESTS AND MILITARY DEPENDENCY

3 The Military Metropolis: Boosters, Bases, and Shipbuilding in Hampton Roads

BUILDING THE MILITARY METROPOLIS

Norfolk and Portsmouth

Newport News

Defense Dependence

DEFENSE-SPENDING CUTBACKS AND PRIVATE-SECTOR RESPONSES

Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Responds

Responses in the Ship-Repair Industry

Responses in the Service Industries

COMMUNITY-WIDE RESPONSES

Renewing the Growth Vision: The Plan 2007 Process

Assisting Existing Businesses: The Peninsula Advanced Technology Center

Defending Hampton Roads against BRAC'95

Converting Defense Workers: A Fragmented Approach

CONCLUSION

4 The New Face of Defense: Systems Engineers and Bureaucrats in Northern Virginia

THE RISE OF THE HIGH-TECH DEFENSE ECONOMY

COMMUNITY CONTEXT: SUBURBANIZATION AND GROWTH INTERESTS

DEFENSE CUTBACKS AND LOCAL RESPONSES

Defense-Contractor Responses.

COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO PROCUREMENT CUTBACKS

Individual Localities

Fairfax County

Arlington County

Manassas

Region-Wide Dislocated-Worker Services

Small-Business Development Centers

RESPONSES TO THE BRAC PROCESS: RESISTANCE AND REUSE PLANNING

The Crystal City Office Complex and Arlington County Task Force

Cameron Station, Alexandria

Vint Hill Farms Station, Fauquier County

5 Rural Areas and Small Cities: Dependency, Adjustment, and Conversion

ECONOMIC DISLOCATION IN APPALACHIA: THE RADFORD ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

Background

Defense Dependency and Cutbacks

Community-Wide Initiatives

New River Valley Economic Adjustment Strategy

Converting the Radford Army Ammunition Plant

Dislocated Worker Services

Other Community Initiatives

TROOPS, TEXTILES, AND TOBACCO IN SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA: THE FORT PICKETT ARMY BASE

Fort Pickett's Functions

Economic Impact

Efforts to Enhance the Fort

An Effort to Diversify the Fort

Defending the Fort in the BRAC'95 Process

Reuse Planning

DEFENSE-CONVERSION PLANNING IN THEORY: THE RESPONSE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

Defense Dependency, Cutbacks, and Community Responses

Community Responses to Defense Dependency

6 The State Politics of Defense Restructuring: Adjustment and Resistance

MONITORING AND ADAPTING TO PROCUREMENT CUTBACKS: 1990-1993

Research and Monitoring Activities

Defense Conversion and Adjustment Planning: The Wilder Commission

The Governor's Conference on Defense Conversion

THE CAMPAIGN TO RESIST BASE CLOSINGS, 1993-1995

Defending the Bases: The Allen Commission and Other Activities

7 Conversion Advocacy in Other States and Localities

SAN DIEGO

MAINE

WASHINGTON STATE

CONNECTICUT

TUCSON

ST. LOUIS

A NOTE ON MASSACHUSETTS.

CONCLUSION

8 Transforming the Politics of Defense Conversion

SUMMING UP: STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER INFLUENCES

Regional Industrial Structure and the Nature and Magnitude of Cutbacks

Established Interests: Elected Officials

Growth Interests

Prime Contractors

Unions

Peace Advocates

Technology Interests

Appointed Officials

Institutional Capacity

Local Political and Fiscal Structures

Leadership

Federal Assistance

THE UPSHOT

ENDING THE COLD WAR CAPTIVITY

A Real New-World Order

And What of Conversion?

Local Reforms to Enhance Regional Planning

First Things First

References

Index

About the Author.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [189]-198) and index.

ISBN:

9798400623332

9780313000812

0313000816

OCLC:

232161418