Definition and meaning of militarism: Militarism is the reliance on military technology, military power, and the use of military force to achieve political goals. It is a system of government that favors the use of military power over other means of solving international and domestic disputes. Militarism has a long history in the United States, from the founding of the nation to the present day, and has been used to justify policies such as the Iraq War and the U.S.-led War on Terror. It has been used by both major parties to justify large-scale military intervention in other countries around the world. Many reform-minded organizations argue that militarism is a costly and ineffective way of solving international and domestic disputes, and that it is counterproductive to the long-term interests of the United States and its citizens. They advocate for more peaceful solutions to conflicts, and for the United States to engage in more productive and diplomatic means of achieving its foreign policy goals.