Industrial Mobilization in World War I: Implications for Future Great Power Conflict

Abstract

For approximately 25 years, the United States was the world’s sole superpower. With the emergence of China as a peer competitor on both the economic and military fronts, that era has come to an end. The prospect for near-future, industrial-scale, non-nuclear warfare can no longer be dismissed. Should that occur, it would be irresponsible to assume that a military decision would quickly ensue, therefore industrial (and societal) mobilization would be necessary. When considering this type of future, it is natural to look to the most recent historical example for guidance, and that would be World War II, in which America’s supremely effective industrial mobilization created the well-known “arsenal of democracy” that the enemy was not able to counter. In this paper, we propose that while the World War II story is instructive, the run-up to World War I in which America’s industrial mobilization was far less effective, should not be ignored. This paper takes an introductory look at the failure of U.S. industrial mobilization in World War I, focusing on the case of shipbuilding. We review similarities and contrasts to today’s situation and suggest courses of action to reduce the likelihood of a similar outcome in the future.