5 The khaki economy
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Vron Ware
Abstract
This chapter asks if it is possible to assess the economic benefits brought by the army presence, and how this might be estimated. It looks at various recent developments – a business enterprise centre, for example – and at the amount invested in defence and security in the wider South West region. The chapter is framed by the support given to military spouses to start their own businesses, seeing this as partly an outcome of the military covenant campaign from the 2007 period onwards. The consequent politicisation of military service led to wide-ranging promises to support soldiers and their families, but, in the meantime, it had become clear that the gender dynamics of the military way of life are not conducive to long-term careers in the service. The chapter ends by asking about the effect of military discounts on the local economy, asking if this actually detracts from efforts to integrate or at least to bring benefits to a region.
Abstract
This chapter asks if it is possible to assess the economic benefits brought by the army presence, and how this might be estimated. It looks at various recent developments – a business enterprise centre, for example – and at the amount invested in defence and security in the wider South West region. The chapter is framed by the support given to military spouses to start their own businesses, seeing this as partly an outcome of the military covenant campaign from the 2007 period onwards. The consequent politicisation of military service led to wide-ranging promises to support soldiers and their families, but, in the meantime, it had become clear that the gender dynamics of the military way of life are not conducive to long-term careers in the service. The chapter ends by asking about the effect of military discounts on the local economy, asking if this actually detracts from efforts to integrate or at least to bring benefits to a region.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Epigraph v
- Dedication vi
- Contents vii
- Introduction 1
- I The place 17
- 1 Khaki country 19
- 2 Contact zones 49
- 3 Military sprawl 68
- II The cost 89
- 4 Relocation, relocation, relocation 91
- 5 The khaki economy 113
- 6 Living next to a pipeline 136
- III The legacy 163
- 7 The shadow of war 165
- 8 This land is our land 187
- Conclusion 212
- List of figures 226
- Acknowledgements 228
- Notes 230
- Index 252
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Epigraph v
- Dedication vi
- Contents vii
- Introduction 1
- I The place 17
- 1 Khaki country 19
- 2 Contact zones 49
- 3 Military sprawl 68
- II The cost 89
- 4 Relocation, relocation, relocation 91
- 5 The khaki economy 113
- 6 Living next to a pipeline 136
- III The legacy 163
- 7 The shadow of war 165
- 8 This land is our land 187
- Conclusion 212
- List of figures 226
- Acknowledgements 228
- Notes 230
- Index 252
