How to Run Wars: Dr. Abigail Hall on the Economics of Endless Conflict

Dr. Abigail R. Hall, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Tampa, unpacks the themes of her book How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite, a satirical yet fully factual examination of the modern U.S. national security state and military industrial complex. Drawing on case studies from the Iraq War to contemporary sports culture, she shows how carefully crafted narratives, media relationships, and even paid patriotic displays in stadiums help sustain public support for foreign interventions while concealing their true human and financial costs. Hall traces how the shift from taxation and war bonds to debt financing has hidden the price of conflict from citizens, and how tools first developed for overseas operations, surveillance technologies, drones, and militarized policing, inevitably migrate home. Ultimately, she argues that while entrenched interests in the “iron triangle” of military, industry, and Congress are powerful, an engaged and informed public still holds meaningful leverage, and that safeguarding a free society requires citizens to confront uncomfortable truths rather than passively accept official narratives. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. B. Dr. Abigail Hall shared insightful perspectives from her acclaimed book ‘How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite’, during her engaging conversation on the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.