Convergent vs. Conflicting Interests in Processes of Armaments Acquisition: A Case Study of Two Finnish Decisions on the Procurement of Military Aircraft

Abstract

Harle, V. Convergent vs. Conflicting Interests in Processes of Armaments Acquisition: A Case Study of Two Finnish Decisions on the Procurement of Military Aircraft. Cooperation and Conflict, XIV, 1979, 21-33.

In 1976 the Finnish Government decided to replace the Finnish Air Force Fouga Magister jet trainers with advanced British HS Hawk jet trainers and its Saab Safir primary trainers with indigenous Leko-70s. The author suggests that these decisions cannot be explained by reference to the external environment of Finnish foreign policy, and therefore a more general framework based on the literature on the military-in dustrial complex is proposed. The theory can be criticized, however, for the assumption that the MIC segments exercise their influence in a more or less coordinated and mutually supportive way to achieve and maintain optimal levels of military expenditure. This also applies to the Finnish case: the decisions were made either against the interests of the Finnish aircraft industry or on the direct responsibility of the Finnish Government, and were not based on common MIC interests. Air Force interests conflicted with those of industry, and the role of the Government was to decide which interests were to be taken into consideration. The author hesitates to generalize his findings, but suggests that research be carried out along the same lines in other countries.