PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2021, Arts and Sciences: Political Science

This dissertation examines China's and India's military modernization since 1980 demonstrated by advancements in major weapons systems. It examines the impact of four key variables on military modernization—two demand-side variables, i.e. the security threat environment and the obsolescence of existing military forces, and two supply-side variables, i.e. military industrial capacity and the availability of foreign suppliers. This study argues that in periods when most of the explanatory variables, as determined by several indicators, are measured high, particularly security factors and military obsolescence, military modernization is highest. Moreover, the security threat environment plays a larger role in influencing military modernization in both states than previously understood. Additionally, China's rapid advancement ahead of India, despite disadvantages, may be a result of alternative means of procurement and development, to include not only aggressive means of technology transfer through co-option, coercion, and industrial espionage.

Committee: Dinshaw Mistry Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Richard Harknett Ph.D. (Committee Member); Thomas Moore Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Political Science