The years of fiscal austerity and social turmoil that followed, writes Mr Priestland, contributed to the militarisation of Germany and Japan.

ECONOMIST: A history of power

General Alexander's seven-month confirmation process is a sign of the qualms senators felt at the merging of military and espionage functions, the militarisation of cyberspace and the fear that it may undermine Americans' right to privacy.

ECONOMIST: Are the mouse and keyboard the new weapons of conflict?