A factor in most Imperial declines, Soviet, British, Roman.
Once military starts sucking the economic blood from Empire, collapse is inevitable. The bigger and more global the current conflict the quicker the process takes effect.
Military Spending Patterns in History
Jari Eloranta, Appalachian State University
“In order for military spending to hinder economic performance, it would have to surpass all other areas of an economy, such as is often the case during wartime.”
Military budget and total US federal spending (wikipedia)
World military spending (wikipedia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/WorldMilitarySpending.jpg
The USA dwarfs the rest of the world in military expenditure.
The most interesting period to observe here is the third century. Note the collapse in military manpower.
US naval manpower
Relative Size of US Military Spending (1940-2003)
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq65-1.htm
Tags: britian, british, Collapse, decline, Empire, expenditure, Imperial, military, Politics
