10 Percent for All

The idea

10 Percent less for the military = 244 billion US dollars more for All. That’s the basic idea for a global disarmament campaign – an idea, that has been around for decades. If all countries simultaneously reduce their military budget by ten percent, the relative security remains the same for each of them. It will not change the balance of power and hence could even have some appeal to security conservatives. With the global military spending in 2023 reaching 2.44 trillion USD[1], a 10% cut in military budgets would free approximately 244 billion USD across countries to combat climate change, poverty, hunger, and provide true long-term security, freedoms and dignity for billions of people.

Building a campaign

Having a long history and strong commitment to disarmament, The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS)[2] has decided to initiate a collaborative process, inviting various civil society actors to think jointly about the framing of such a campaign.

We would like to invite a wide range of representatives from around the world to take part in building this campaign. It is important that the campaign is based on people’s diverse experiences from the very beginning, including perspectives from the Global South and North, from different continents, from grassroots to international organizations and across genders, religious, and ethnic contexts so that the campaign can evolve in a way that is both strategic across spaces, and justice oriented.  

During this consultation phase, we will ask: What initiatives already exist? What messaging about the true cost of military spending would work best in different spaces? What may work internationally? What can be tangible short-term milestones on the way to a global cut in military spending? And how to build hope through and for the campaign?

Looking backwards, moving forward

This idea is not new. In 2021, the Global Peace Dividend Appeal was signed by more than 50 Nobelists and got considerable media attention around the globe[3]. The Global Campaign on Military Spending has equally been working on this issue, with more than 100 organizations joining the coalition. Many other anti-militarist groups and international networks of peace have been advocating for global disarmament for decades.

The 10 Percent for All initiative suggests building on this history and developing a sustained and coordinated campaign with clearly articulated objectives and a roadmap to bring us there. This may sound utopian, but the same was true thirty years ago when we fought for a ban on landmines – and in the end, we won. Will you join us in trying once again?

Contact: 10-percent@posteo.co

[1] SIPRI, SIPRI Yearbook 2024, Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, 2024

[2] The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is one of the six major political foundations in Germany and is closely linked to Die Linke, a democratic socialist party in the German parliament.