Defence is not free: Peace always has a price - Radoslav Ivančík, Marika Húleková

Currently, we live in an era where peace is no longer taken for granted but has become a precious value. This scientific monograph reveals that defence funding is not merely an economic matter—a technical line item in the state budget—but a reflection of political responsibility and will, the quality of democratic institutions, strategic and security culture, and societal resilience.Utilising an interdisciplinary scientific approach, the authors examine defence funding in the Slovak Republic from 1993 to 2024—covering the period from the establishment of the independent state to the present day—while analysing the interaction between economic constraints, political cycles, security shocks, and social (mis)trust. They contend that the question of how much defence costs is, in reality, a question of how much peace costs. Consequently, neglecting defence during times of prosperity leads to increased uncertainty and instability, and to manifold higher costs that are no longer paid solely in currency but, unfortunately, also in human suffering.This publication is intended for experts across various scientific disciplines, policymakers, and a broader professional and lay audience. The authors’ message is simple: defence is not free, and its provision is a service to peace in Slovakia, in Europe, and throughout the world.Žijeme v dobe, keď mier už nie je samozrejmosťou, ale stal sa vzácnou hodnotou. Tato monografia odhaľuje, že financovanie obrany nie je len ekon
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