Global military expenditures have reached record levels. At the same time, human rights violations are widespread worldwide, and the number of deaths caused by violent conflicts has risen dramatically in recent years.  Both trends are related. Dynamics in the areas of security and armaments can have far-reaching consequences for human well-being as well as social and economic development in societies.

Nevertheless, the relationship between development, security and armaments is ambivalent. Increased public investment in the armed forces or the police can result in either more or less security for communities, potentially at the expense of other areas such as healthcare or education, where needs may be acute. Furthermore, providing security solely through private companies and gated communities could exacerbate social inequalities and tensions.

The project ‘Development. Security. Armament.’ examines the interactions and tensions between security and development from a global, national and societal perspective. For example, it analyses the influence of security policies and practices on development objectives, human rights and gender equality. Its aim is to support policymakers and practitioners in gaining a better understanding of the— at times unintentional—consequences of their security-related actions, particularly in unstable and less affluent environments.

To this end, the project team uses various analytical tools and produces cross-media content. These include the Global Militarisation Index (GMI), which measures the relative weight and importance of a country’s military resources in relation to society.