Beating Plowshares into Swords: The Impact of the Metropolitan-Military Complex

Author(s): Chowdhury, Rumman | Advisor(s): Kousser, Thaddeus; Erie, Steven | Abstract: Does economic dominance by the military affect local political and socialoutcomes? This study is an extensive examination of the metropolitan-militarycomplex through empirical and case-study analyses. I establish an empiricallink between public spending, social capital, and military economicinvolvement. A natural experiment of base realignments tests causalhypotheses, determining that political capture occurs when the military is adominant industry. Path-dependence is examined both empirically andanecdotally by introducing predictive modeling to bolster case-study uniquely suited for this analysis as they are demographically, economically,historically, and geographically similar. They share an early history intertwinedwith the railroad and the military, but while San Diego stayed economicallyreliant on the military, Las Vegas switched allegiances to the gaming industry.As a result, we are able to see an alternative scenario to San Diego’s military influencedhistory. The analyses and case study culminate in a multidimensionalunderstanding of economic dominance. This work contributes tothe literature on political capture, invites discussion on how industry affects thedemocratic process, and raises salient questions for policy-makers interestedin attracting major industries to their region.