Militarism
Militarism is a belief or system where the military is exalted and its needs and considerations are given excessive importance or priority - moreover, it is often also used to describe the spillover of military values into wider society. This last point in particular is often utilized in regard to Fascist societies, as they spotlight discipline, order, strength and exercise, all characteristics typical of the military. Militarism was a powerful force in 19th and early 20th century America, particularly following the official military entry of the US in The World's War Against Communism. While militarism alone did not start neither The Great War nor The World's War Against Communism, it fueled a potent arms race and undermined the role of diplomacy as a means of resolving disputes.
In militaristic nations, generals and admirals often act as de facto government ministers or officials, advising political leaders and influencing domestic policy. Not surprisingly, this leads to significant increases in defense and arms spending or elections in which "civilian" leaders are pulled directly from the military - an example of this is General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Ulysses S. Grant and General George Washington and their respective Presidential careers. It's worth noting that within politically unstable democracies the military acts as a "point of reference", which leads to a stronger involvement of it within politics itself; an example of this would be Pakistan or the Central African Republic.