Exploring the Nexus of Defense Expenditure, Governance Strategies, and Ecological Impact: An Evidence from Developed Countries

Abstract

This research aims to conduct a comparative study of developed countries to examine the relationship between defense spending, governance, and ecological footprints. The study employs Panel Data to analyze the data from a range of developed countries from 1996-2022, including their defense spending patterns, governance structures, and ecological footprints. The study identified certain governance practices that contribute to reducing ecological footprints in developed countries. The findings highlight the environmental impacts of economic expansion and military activities, emphasizing the need to consider both factors when assessing their environmental effects. The study reveals that the military and economy have distinct ecological consequences independently driven by resource-dependent dynamics. It underscores the significance of incorporating the military into theoretical frameworks and empirical investigations within environmental sociology. The analysis also highlights the presence of ecologically unequal exchange relationships, whereby economically and militarily powerful nations disproportionately exploit global environmental resources, leading to unsustainable consumption levels in less developed countries.