How do corporate profits incentivize war?

In 2026, there are more active conflicts than at any other time since World War II. Globally, defense spending is reaching new heights. For most of us, this is horrible news. But for arms producing companies, it’s all good: revenues are skyrocketing. So, in this episode we ask: how do corporate profits incentivize war?

Guests:

Andrew Feinstein is the Executive Director of Shadow World Investigations. Originally from South Africa, he was a member of the African National Congress (ANC), which was voted into Parliament in the country’s first post-apartheid election. He served on several oversight Committees, but eventually resigned from his position in protest of the ANC and government’s refusal to allow a full investigation into massive corruption in a $10 billion arms deal. Andrew is the author of several books on the arms trade including The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade. You can follow Andrew on X at @andrewfeinstein and Instagram at @andrewfeinstein.

Janet Abou-Elias is a co-founder of Women for Weapons Trade Transparency and a researcher with the Democratizing Foreign Policy Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Her research focuses on arms trade policies, international humanitarian law, and U.S. foreign policy. Connect with Janet on Linkedin here and on X at @janetabouelias.

This conversation was recorded on July 27th, 2026.

Correction: Both guests mention an incident that occurred on February 28, 2026, when the U.S. bombed a girl’s school in Minab, Iran. The guests cite different numbers of fatalities from this attack. We found slightly different numbers that also include some adults and boys. Here are some resources:

• 'What was their crime?': BBC visits Iran school where strike killed 120 children
• USA/Iran: Those responsible for deadly and unlawful US strike on school that killed over 100 children must be held accountable
• Senate Democrats demand Pentagon release findings on Iran school strike investigation

Pre-Order the Book: Making a Killing: How the West Profits from Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen (out Nov 24, 2026)

References:

• The SIPRI Top 100 Arms-Producing and Military Services Companies, 2024 (List on pages 9-11)
• Global Violent Deaths in 2021

Resources mentioned by guests:

• Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
• Drop Site News
• Declassified UK
• Middle East Eye
• Double Down News Watch
• BDS National Committee
• The Corruption Tracker

Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Frayashti Shekhawat. Show artwork by Simon Fung.

Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. This episode was produced by Bridget Conley, Emily Shaw, and Anna Van Dine. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Frayashti Shekhawat. Show artwork by Simon Fung.

Special thanks to Lisa Avery, Michelle Anderson, Alex de Waal, Anna Van Dine, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team.

Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.