Today, the line between war and peace is no longer defined solely by weapons and soldiers; economic power and technological advancement have become the fundamental determinants of a country's destiny.
This reality rebuilds modern war and peace through the lens of economic and technological infrastructure, much like Tolstoy’s attempt in War and Peace to depict the complex relationships between human inner worlds and societal dynamics.
At this intersection, civil sectors and technologies emerge as transformative forces that alter the very nature of warfare and breathe life into peace.
Artificial intelligence and software technologies shape the key dynamics behind military decisions, much like the inner conflicts of mankind portrayed in Tolstoy’s novel.
Surveillance systems, autonomous vehicles, and civil engineering technologies penetrate the battlefield, becoming the keys to peace as well.
As aviation and space technologies revolutionise our way of reaching the skies, they redraw the boundaries of peace on Earth.
Advanced material technologies, that emphasise lightness and durability, replace destruction with symbols of innovation and progress.
Companies and Nations: Architects of New War and Peace
Tesla’s electric vehicles and energy storage solutions symbolise sustainability and peaceful coexistence rather than "war technology," which has historically been one of humanity’s greatest conflicts.
SpaceX's ventures into space are opening new highways of peace, not new battlegrounds, while Google’s artificial intelligence shifts from surveillance to tools for understanding and dialogue.
Yet, it remains a matter of debate how much these efforts will truly prevent the great conflicts whose echoes we hear at our doors.
These technologies, which delineate the borders of life and death reveal both its finest and most devastating facets
Major global corporations like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and BAE Systems act as double-edged swords—on one side, instruments of war; on the other, guarantors of peace.
These technologies, which delineate the borders of life and death—much like Tolstoy’s emphasis on the profound yet destructive depths of the human soul—reveal both its finest and most devastating facets.
A Country Comparison: The Economy of War and Peace
Among these great powers, Turkey, Russia, China, India, and Pakistan are building their own "war and peace economies" through different paths:
- Turkey strengthens its defence sector by integrating civil industries and technologies, becoming a substantial exporter in this field. It maintains its military spending at approximately 2% of GDP, with total defence expenditures projected around $25 billion in 2024.
- Russia, inheriting the Cold War legacy, has shifted from deterrence to a threat-based approach through independent defence technologies and domestic production, with a total defence budget of $149 billion in 2024, accounting for over 7% of its GDP.
- China, with its massive and growing economy, continues to surprise with breakthroughs in dual-use technologies, emphasising both military and civilian innovations. Despite a defence budget of about $314 billion in 2024, it constitutes only 1.7% of its GDP, showcasing its focus on economic growth and technological development without direct military confrontation.
- India strives to preserve its independence and modernisation through significant imports and the development of a domestic defence industry. Its total military spending is projected to reach $86 billion in 2024, about 3.2% of GDP, while heavily investing in both civil and military sectors.
- Pakistan, with limited resources, is working to shed dependence on foreign technologies and retain psychological superiority over India. Its defence budget of roughly $10 billion in 2023 accounts for about 2.7% of GDP, with a persistent effort toward technological independence.
Remarkably, the combined military budgets of these five competitive nations still lag behind the United States’ defence expenditure, which reached $1 trillion in 2023, accounting for approximately 3.5% of its GDP.
Countries like Germany, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Algeria also allocate high proportions of their GDP to defence due to tangible threat perceptions.
Human, Technological, and Economic Balances
As Tolstoy eloquently expressed, the modern dichotomy of war and peace is shaped not just by individual and societal conflicts but profoundly by the intricate interactions among nations’ economies and technological capacities.
Today's defence and peace economy are no longer just about weaponry and armies but have become the battlefield of innovation, civil industries, and global power struggles.
The destructive and constructive potential of these technologies exposes both its noblest and darkest sides
In Tolstoy’s work, the greatest enemy of peace is not external war, but internal greed, power, and the desire for domination. Today, this internal struggle manifests in the interplay between military technologies and civil innovations.
The destructive and constructive potential of these technologies, much like the human soul depicted in his novel, exposes both its noblest and darkest sides.
The Inner Battlefield of Humanity
To conclude, as Tolstoy begins and I will echo: the true war and peace lie not in weapons but within the transformations of the human soul and in the balance of a nation’s economic and technological power.
We are at a crossroads where our choices can elevate humanity to its highest potential or plunge it into endless conflict - Emre Alkin
Today, technology is not merely a tool for fighting or maintaining peace; it should serve the purpose of achieving lasting peace, ensuring sustainability, and illuminating the brighter side of humanity.
This is why, in this era of rapid technological advancement and the rise of civil sectors, we must redefine our concept of the "War and Peace Economy."
Humanity cannot build genuine peace and well-being without first transforming its inner world and establishing internal harmony. External conflict and arms proliferation—no matter how advanced—will only prolong until the inner peace of individuals and societies is achieved.
As Tolstoy famously said, "Peace is the greatest and most enduring achievement of the human soul." Our collective duty now is to harness these innovations responsibly—using them not as weapons of destruction but as catalysts for a peaceful, sustainable, and enlightened future.
In this context, the rise of civil industries and technological progress signifies more than economic growth; it underscores a fundamental moral and existential shift. We are at a crossroads where our choices can elevate humanity to its highest potential or plunge it into endless conflict.
Remembering Tolstoy's insight, the ultimate victory lies in cultivating inner peace and moral integrity, which must be reflected outwardly through the conscious and ethical use of technology.
Let us choose the path of peace, harnessing our innovations towards unity, understanding, and collective well-being—ultimately, building a future where the real war and peace reside within the human heart and in the balance of our inner and outer worlds.
