War Economy
Across the world, governments are expanding military spending, border regimes, surveillance systems, and security infrastructures in response to political instability, migration, climate breakdown, and social unrest. This is underpinned by a war economy, made up of corporate and financial interests that provide the investments, infrastructure, technologies and systems that increasingly shape every dimension of daily life.
TNI’s War Economy Project examines the nexus between militarisation, security, and globalisation.
- We investigate the economic and political structures and interests that underpin a new era of permanent war, expose the technologies of control and repression used in the name of security, and analyse their impacts on communities considered threatening, disposable, or resistant by those in power.
- We collaborate closely with climate, peace and other social movements to resist and push back on militarisation.
- We develop proposals and policies that can offer alternatives to militarisation based on global cooperation, diplomacy, conflict-prevention and tackling injustice - policies that deliver true human security rather than providing profits to arms dealers.
Garry Knight from London, England, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
What we work on
Research and advocacy on militarisation, security, borders, and peace
Research focus
Border Wars
Borders have become central sites of militarisation, surveillance, exclusion, and violence. Governments are increasingly treating migration as a security threat, expanding border enforcement systems while externalising controls far beyond national territories.
TNI’s Border Wars work investigates the political and economic drivers behind border militarisation, including the role of arms companies, security contractors, and surveillance technologies. We analyse how border policies intersect with war, inequality, climate breakdown, and displacement, while documenting their human impacts on migrants and communities.
Our work supports struggles for migrant justice, freedom of movement, and rights-based alternatives to securitised border regimes.
Climate Security
Climate breakdown is increasingly being framed through the lens of national security, conflict prevention, and border control. Governments and military institutions are using climate crises to justify expanding surveillance, militarisation, and emergency powers.
TNI’s work on climate security critically examines how militarised approaches to climate change reinforce existing inequalities and deepen injustice. We investigate the role of military institutions in driving ecological destruction and analyse how climate-related insecurity is being used to strengthen authoritarian and exclusionary policies.
At the same time, we support approaches centred on climate justice, demilitarisation, international solidarity, and social transformation.
EU Militarism and War Policies
The European Union is playing an expanding role in militarisation, security policy, arms funding, border enforcement, and geopolitical intervention. Under the banner of security and strategic autonomy, EU institutions are increasingly supporting military industries and securitised responses to global crises.
TNI’s work on EU militarism investigates the political, economic, and institutional drivers behind Europe’s growing military agenda. We analyse EU defence spending, arms industry lobbying, externalisation policies, and the impacts of militarised foreign policy on peace, democracy, and human rights.
Our research contributes to debates on demilitarisation, international cooperation, and alternative approaches to security rooted in justice and peace.
Pacification and Resistance
Pacification extends beyond war zones and borders into cities, public institutions, workplaces, and everyday life. Security policies are increasingly used to manage inequality, suppress dissent, criminalise protest, and control populations considered disruptive or expendable.
TNI’s work on pacification and resistance examines the expanding infrastructures of policing, surveillance, repression, and social control. We investigate how states and corporations deploy security narratives and technologies to contain political opposition and maintain unequal social orders.
At the same time, we highlight movements and communities resisting militarisation and building democratic, collective, and emancipatory alternatives.
Peace and Neutrality
In an era of escalating geopolitical tensions and military expansion, debates around peace, neutrality, and non-alignment are becoming increasingly urgent. Militarised responses to conflict continue to dominate international politics, often at the expense of diplomacy, dialogue, and long-term peacebuilding.
TNI’s work on peace and neutrality explores alternative security approaches rooted in cooperation, demilitarisation, and conflict transformation. We examine traditions of neutrality and non-alignment, analyse contemporary peace initiatives, and support efforts to strengthen civilian approaches to security and international solidarity.
Our work contributes to broader struggles for disarmament, democratic accountability, and sustainable peace.
How we work
TNI combines critical research, movement collaboration, and public engagement to challenge militarisation and support peaceful and democratic alternatives.
Research and analysis
We produce in-depth research on militarisation, security policy, borders, surveillance, war economies, and the political interests driving permanent war and pacification.
Movement collaboration and solidarity
We work closely with peace movements, migrant justice organisations, climate justice networks, researchers, and civil society groups across regions to strengthen collective analysis and resistance.
Public debate and advocacy
Together with partners, we contribute research and critical perspectives to debates on war, militarisation, border regimes, and security policies at local, national, and international levels.
Popular education and communication
We translate complex issues into accessible publications, podcasts, videos, and educational materials that support public understanding and political organising around peace, justice, and demilitarisation.
International dialogue and exchange
Through seminars, workshops, and collaborative initiatives, we facilitate international dialogue between activists, researchers, journalists, and policy actors working on alternatives to militarisation and authoritarian security agendas.