Adversaries Quote by George F. Kennan
“Were the Soviet Union to sink tomorrow under the waters of the ocean, the American military-industrial establishment would have to go on, substantially unchanged, until some other adversary could be invented. Anything else would be an unacceptable shock to the American economy.”
About This Quote
Source Book: American Diplomacy, 1964
The U.S. defense industry would continue unchanged after a Soviet collapse, as the economy depends on a perpetual adversary to justify its military spending.
In simple terms: US military spending persists without a clear enemy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the need for diversified security goals.
Themes
national security
military economics
political inertia
industrial complex
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- budget allocation
- foreign threat assessment
Key Concepts
strategic stability
defense budgeting
economic dependence
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives exist for a peacetime defense economy?
- How can societies transition without economic shock?
A Different Perspective
Changing geopolitical realities can force abrupt economic adjustments.
