The War State: The Cold War Origins of the Military-Industrial Complex

by Michael Swanson

Today when you factor in the interest on the national debt from past wars and total defense expenditures the United States spends almost 40% of its federal budget on the military. It accounts for over 46% of total world arms spending. Before World War II it spent almost nothing on defense and hardly anyone paid any income taxes. You can't have big wars without big government. Such big expenditures are now threatening to harm the national economy. How did this situation come to...

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, War, American History, American, Military Fiction

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The War State is an excellent intro to the military industrial complex. It was well researched and had plenty of footnotes with lots of official sources. The Kennedy / Kruschchev chapters were particularly interesting and well-written. I wasn't crazy about how the writing style would alternate between conversational and descriptive (e.g. asking "do you know why?" here and there) it felt a bit inconsistent. I also didn't buy the argument that things would have been different if Robert Taft was elected President (being from the elite establishment himself) particularly since he died a year after running. Overall, I liked it quite a bit despite a couple hiccups and would recommend it. Read it next time the war drums start beating in Washington D.C. (P.S. I won a copy from a Goodreads.com giveaway.)

[Mike Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

The author takes the reader from the Hoover through Kennedy administrations to demonstrate the policies and rational of the government elite that have contributed to the continual growth of the war state under the auspices of the military industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned the country of during his final address to the country.

The author clearly shows how maintaining the war footing policies have and are still drawing our economic powers and resources.
This is a very impactful and informative work of modern American history. As a result, through reading this book, one can see how we have reached our destiny of today which is tenuous and fragmented.
A very vital and important read.

[Julian Ajello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic look at the rise of the American military-industrial complex after World War II through the Kennedy administration and how it created the warfare state. It tracks the creation of the CIA out of the OSS and how it came to influence politics and foreign policy by usurping policy-making starting in the 1950s by lying about the severity of the Soviet threat. Spoiler alert: it was nowhere near as scary as we were told.

If you want to find out how the US went from a nation with no standing military to an empire in a short period of time, and how this corrupted the republic into an oligarchy run by warmongers and war profiteers, read this book.

[Shane Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great political history of the Cold War era focusing from post-WWII to JFK’s death. It wasn’t dry in the least and engaged the reader throughout—not an easy feat especially for an unknown writer. His sourcing was balanced between primary and secondary sources and in my opinion his analysis was spot-on in most places.

Some quotes I liked below:

“The federal government gave birth to large military budgets and mass income taxes at the same time and both live on together today as twin siblings of the war state.”

“Of the twenty-six billion dollars spent during the war to build plants, seventeen billion was financed by the government. Taxpayer money financed the growth of the private defense industry.”

“Electoral politics means very little, because it is not in the political parties or in Congress that the truly big decisions are made.”

“Since the dawn of civilization, though, there has been a close relationship between international banking and spying, because the people who work for banks that lend money overseas have a huge interest in knowing what is happening in the countries that they lend money to.”

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this volume free from Goodreads. Two things struck me about this history; (1) the author is not a academician (he's a Wall Street guy) and (2) it's written as if the author is addressing you directly. The author contends that America's present state (huge deficits) is due exclusively to a continuing state of war (the "military industrial complex") that has existed since the end of WWII and has been perpetuated by a "Power Elite" that has effectively directed and controlled defense spending to a greater extent that any elected official during this period. While I agree with the author's central theme, I thought the book was overly long and repetitive.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Right. Because submarines and all sorts of war ships were unknown before 1945. Because ”national interest” and duties imposed on steel and locomotives were unknown before 1948.

[Malhar Mahurkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audiobook.

An interesting book arguing against US militarism by a political conservative / libertarian.

The Cold War was not inevitable, Swanson argues, but FDR’s death and the breakdown of the bi-lateral channels between Truman and Stalin meant that no negotiated settlement between Stalin’s desire for buffer states as security and the US’s desire for a prosperous Europe (to arrest what it saw as a potential dangerous spread of communism into countries such as Greece, Italy and France ) was possible. This coupled with the detonation of the atomic bomb in Japan led to the Cold War and the rise of the ‘War State.’

The War State Swanson argues, populated by figures from the ‘Power Elite’ (C Wright Mills’ Term) amassed and grew through the 50s and 60s, gathering more power for the executive (away from Congressional oversight) while paradoxically limiting the manoeuvre room for presidents.

Swanson details how increased military spending based on falsified estimates of Soviet military power was secured by military officials allied with defence contractors from both Truman and Eisenhower. The CIA’s influence also grew and engineered coups in both Guatemala and Iran overthrowing Arbenz and Mossadegh. Swanson reserves particularly (deserved) ire for the Dulles brothers.

As Swanson details, the War State justified its own existence by virtue of the very existence of communism, and a cocktail of ideological extremism and the opportunity for some to play a ‘great game’ of espionage further fuelled its growth.

The war mongering logic of the foreign policy establishment came to a head in the Bay of Pigs and Cuban missile crisis. Swanson details how JFK first submitted to and followed their counsel in the former (faulty advice amplified by an ideological echo chamber) and reached over their heads establishing a direct channel with Khrushchev in the latter.

The details on how ready US military men were to use nuclear weapons is shocking and the moderating stance of Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy is comforting and depressing to read.

Swanson perhaps falls too far into the comforting myth of Camelot, arguing that JFK’s death was a missed opportunity for the US war state to be clipped. Nevertheless, his detailed overview of the Cuban missile crisis is fascinating, and while I am doubtful that JFK could have changed the US’s course to the extent Swanson argues was possible, this reader in 2022 in London was left lamenting JFK’s death and moved by some of his soaring rhetoric entreating American citizens to reassess their view of the USSR for the sake of peace. Perhaps time to read some James Ellroy and histories busting the myths of Camelot as an antidote.

As an observation, Swanson’s objections to the War State and its growth are too focussed on its effect on America’s budget deficit and the breakdown of its constitution as opposed to any moral objections. While certain statements imply he would object to federal government expansion into areas such as healthcare, this doesn’t reduce the strength of his arguments with respect to the War State.

All in all, an informative and well argued book, depressingly prescient for our 21 century world.

[Howard Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed view of the "War State" and the resulting foreign policy decisions of the Cold War

Before reading this book, I attended a class called American Foreign & Military Policy at Metropolitan State University of Denver. In that class we discussed NSC68, communist containment strategies of the Cold War and balances of power that influenced policy making at the foreign, and domestic levels. I was never able to keep up with the assigned readings in class as there were too many to read in a short amount of time and naturally, classified government documents are a boring/complex read. This book encompasses everything I learned in a 9-week long semester ($700 price tag) in just 413 pages ($20 price tag) and the book provided far more depth and clarification. I finished this book knowing far more about the Cold War and foreign policy than when I began reading it. I completed this book in about a week of casual reading (just for leisure) and it was so compelling that I couldn't put it down. It's obvious that Michael Swanson spent his time combing through primary sources (the boring ones I mentioned before ie. NSC68) and secondary sources where he gathered first-hand accounts of interactions between cabinet members of the Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy administrations. Swanson is a true historian that appears to have a real passion for history. It shows in his precise presentation of post-WWII and Cold War policy and it's connection to the military industrial complex. I can't wait to read more of Swanson's work.

[Steve Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a free give-a-way (and that means I knew I would write a review, but not that I would like it, which I did).

I have a new favorite historian, Michael Swanson. His writing style is clear, well-reasoned, and conversational. The War State is an excellent history of the start of the Cold War. In it, he does a great job of exploring an area that has gotten little note in the past. He follows the men and the economics that really shaped our foreign policy after World War II. He also shows how these policies, new to U.S. history, have changed how we function as a country in ways that are not talked about by politicians and our history books. He does this by laying out our history, not by creating an evil cabal of capitalists, either. His sources are well documented in footnotes throughout the book, though I would love to have an index of topics at the end. Easy to give this 5 stars and I look forward to his next book.

[David Ketelsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book free through a Goodreads give-away in exchange for a book review.

The War State by Michael Swanson is a very interesting book. The premise that the huge Military-Industrial Complex in this country is the result of FDR's need to compromise with big business so as to win WW2 seems very well reasoned and plausible. Swanson is able to back his initial idea with plenty of pertinent facts and then spins off well reasoned theories that explain how we got to where we are today.

The book is written in a blog-like style that is a departure from what you typically find in a history book. This might be due to Swanson being from the field of finance not academic history. In any case, it gives the book a feeling of directness that is usually lacking in history books. Being an academic myself, I found this a mite informal but I suspect most people will like Swanson's approach to history.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to obtaining this book I received a recommendation from a fellow Goodreads link. I also came across Michael Swanson's article on Jim DiEugenio's 'KennedysandKing' website. Finally, Jacob Hornberger featured Swanson on one of his 'Future of Freedom' seminars where this author spoke on 'The War State', covering all the main features of this book.
Swanson largely takes the reader through Truman's tenure in the White House to Eisenhower's two terms, ending with the Kennedy assassination in 1963. A period of eighteen years which spawned the War State, with its Military Industrial Complex, the nuclear age, the contest against 'godless' communism driven by a power elite, massive defence spending and the formation of CIA.
Perhaps there is a case for including Wall Street banking entities in foreign finance deals during the 1930's that culminated in 1945, many years before the drafting of NSAM-68.
Certainly a very interesting coverage of the history of the Cold War.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The War state provides a very well thought out and provocative view of modern politics and the way they were shaped by certain historical events. This book was very eye opening and was a real treat to a history buff like myself. It shows a profound look on how America was shaped to be a nation that focuses so much energy on war. The author does a good job of demonstrating the facts and explaining big government in an impartial way. This is important because I feel I can learn without having to be tainted with political agendas. The author covers the emergence of the US as a global superpower and how some resulting changes occur that threaten democracy. This book was very engrossing and I recommend everyone read it especially because it is so relevant to understanding where America stands today.

[Joe Wilcox jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The War State is an excellent intro to the military industrial complex. The author does a good job of demonstrating the facts and explaining big government in an impartial way.

[Brett Axel · Rating 5 out of 5]

an interesting and informative read

[Chris Fabiszak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The War State has an oddly casual feel to it. Swanson starts sentences with intros like "have you ever?" and "Here's the thing." I found it disarming, but be forewarned this book does not feel like a typical piece of intellectual nonfiction.

However, the work does feel very well researched and also frank and insightful. It's an easy read, which is never a bad thing, and explores topics that are extremely important to those of us in the US as well as nation-state that may end up affected by our preposterous military spending.

[Tlazeni Citlalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the narrative style of the author but besides that an overall interesting book laying the facts of the growth of the Military-Industrial complex in the United States between 1945-1963 which was crucial in shaping the US politics and economy and it changed it to the imperialist war state that it is today a political monster that feeds itself from the blood of the deaths that causes while financing wars in Third World countries. Greed is the root of all evil, and the United States is the most greedy country in the world.

[Jacob Harres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book on the rise of the military industrial complex, post ww2 and the early years of the cold war. I wish the author would have continued after the JFK years a bit, as the cold war still raged on for another 2+ decades before the fall of the Soviet Union. Worth noting; the author and publisher are both libertarian, so understand the bias when you read it, but it's a good book nonetheless.

[Jeff Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is almost completely devoid of style. Short, blunt sentences, at times it feels like a freshman college paper. However, the content and narrative are excellent, it's a right-sized introduction to major early Cold War narratives. Don't be scared by the number of pages, the book has ridiculously large type and reads quicker than it looks.

This is the place to go if you want a chapter-sized Cuban Missile Crisis for Dummies.

[Phil Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important work to read, explaining how the U. S. got to where it is today. It is especially important as an introduction to the author's book on the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, it is poorly edited. For example, there is no index, the author's use of comma's will drive you insane, etc. (how many times must we be told the OSS was the predecessor of the CIA and vice versa?).

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains how this could try because the supreme military power of the world and how $$ and politics continues to shape its existence in how the government makes decisions on foreign and domestic policy. I leaned things about our wars and certain events like the Cuban Missile Crisis that i never knew before. The book is written well and flows easily.

[Elting C. Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reading, a detailed look at why America is in the awful place it is currently in .

America as my parents knew it is gone .Youth of today are brainwashed by our democrat side of government. Our history is not being taught and being erased .This book lets it out from the beginning of Americas downfall .

[Nick Pagano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking

[Waleed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative book. Reading the power elite next.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm somewhat suspicious of all the positive reviews, as this is not a good book, it's more like an essay by a college student. Font size is huge to make for more pages.

[Joseph Kolakowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and eye-opening! Well documented behind-the-scenes narrative of the most important events that shaped the USA into its current condition.

[Elruin Elmsroot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Biased and over hyped......

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deserves a good 4 1/2 stars! The author covers the period between 1945 and 1963 in this book, and tells the story of the birth and rapid growth of the military industrial complex in the United States. Having grown up in the later half of the Cold War I have always avoided this subject as just to close to home but, I am glad I bent my rules on this book. The author is clear in his telling of the history and not heavily bogged down with million footnotes, though I do like works extensive notes, I just think that this book had the right amount of them so as not to distract. Further I loved the fact that they were at the bottom of the page instead of in back of the book, instant reference! The clencher of the book for me was the Kennedy section. After reading this I honestly look at Kennedy in a completely new light and with a greater respect. When the author detailed a bit of the agenda Kennedy had scheduled after the date of his assassination it became even more clear to me that, whether anybody likes it or not, but certain sections of the government definitely had to have killed him. I particularly liked the closing argument where the author ties things in to current events, even before reading that though I had already figured out that NSC-68 had been surely rewritten, in spirit, for the modern war on terror. This is clearly a book one should have for their history section and I am definitely looking forward to future historical titles from this author.

[Steven Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The War State is a readable, enlightening, sometimes frightening account of how the Cold War came about. It goes behind the scenes and into the American intelligence community to show how its leaders shaped policy, and often exceeded their authority to further their own agendas. Sometimes they were not beyond the outright falsification of intelligence to justify plans already in motion. Some of these acts were due to hubris, over confidence, others motivated by loyalties to previous private sector employers.

I highly recommend this book for and student of history or politics. It should be mandatory reading for anyone holding federal office.

[Abe Aamidor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious, decades-old book, seemingly written by a political Conservative (perhaps Libertarian) who nevertheless constantly warns the reader about the military-industrial complex after WWII, and uses Eisenhower's thinking to buttress his case. Documentation overall is pretty good - I don't mean to demean the author. I did not like his writing style, which is very much like some armchair philosopher pontificating on various points, very didactic and chummy at the same time, and almost preachy at times. Methinks the author was not a professional historian, but likely had read up on his subject.

[James C Smalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My time. My places.

Heck of a book. I am 81 yrs old. I lived thru and remember well everything that happened after 1950. I went on active duty in 1963. I was at Ft. Ord when a Captain asked me if I wanted to go to Florida for a few days. I was sent to Chicago to help move an air defense unit from there to Key west driving a 5 ton truck. And the back to Fort Ord for release from active duty. 2yrs later after OCS I was trained to operate that stuff. I learned
Semi mobile is pretty permanent
The air to ground accuracy of that missle at 90 miles is measured in inches
Havanna 90 miles from Key West.

The book is very real and true