The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the coming to an end of the Cold War led the US and the Western European members of NATO to cut down on defence spending and allocate the saved resources to more productive areas of investment. This, in turn, enabled these countries to realise a faster rate of economic growth and a higher state of welfare. In the West, this significant benefit drawn from peace is referred to as the 'peace dividend'. Turkey, on the other hand, cannot receive her share of the 'peace dividend' despite the fact that she is in dire need of it. This stems from the fact that the geopolitical realities of the region compel Turkey to increase her defence expenditure in order to be able to protect her territorial integrity and maintain her security. The threats facing Turkey are so diverse and acute that Turkey can only maintain peace by adhering to the age old adage, "Those who want peace, must be prepared for war."