Disarmament and Peace Studies

Unit-I- Introduction CONTENTS Definition of Disarmament and Arms Control Basic Concepts and their Relationship Nature and Scope of Arms Control and Disarmament

Definition and Meaning: Disarmament Definition and Meaning: It calls for Global destruction of weapons and abandoning of all armed forces. It means a plan or a system for limitation, reduction, abolition of the armed forces including their arms, equipments and other related items like military bases and budgets. UNO General and Complete Disarmament was defined by the United Nations General Assembly as the elimination of all WMD, coupled with the balanced reduction of armed forces and conventional armaments, based on the principle of undiminished security of the parties with a view to promoting or enhancing stability at a lower military level, taking into account the need of all States to protect their security.

Need For Disarmament: 1) To avoid war 2) To reduce the destructiveness of war and weapons 3) Survival of Elites- Military Industrial Complexes 4) Moral reasons- Wrong/Illegal/Not Justice 5) Economic reasons- Saves resources 6) Social reasons- linked with economic resources and social welfare programmes are affected (i.e.) Poverty, Unemployment, Disease, Education, Health etc.

Continued .... 7) Political reasons- Fear/Suspicion 8) Advancement of Military Technology (Revolution in Military Affairs (R.M.A) 9) Lobby for Defence Industry- Sale/profit. 10)Major Powers/Super Power conflicts- affects the process of negotiation.

Kinds of Disarmament: Local /General: This involves a few nations of the regions or locality where in they come to an understanding for reducing certain or all categories of weapons. Example: 1) Rush Begot Agreement of 1817 by USA, Canada, Latin American Countries, were influenced in the agreement. 2) U.S Proposal and agreement on disarmament since World War II may be categories under general.

Continued .... Regional: It is a multilateral agreement reached by a few countries of a particular region (Eg. Middle East Nation and Latin American Regions, African Region and Continents, South Asia, South East Asia are the member of countries). Specific: Disarmament programmes aim to achieve from pre-determined objectives it calls for a reduction, elimination, abolition or prohibition of certain specific types of weapons which is considered to be deadly.

Continued .... Qualitative/ Quantitative: Weapons of crucial strategic important are always a major problem and therefore countries come forward aiming to bring about a reduction, elimination or abolition of certain types of armaments. (E.g. SALT-I, II by the super powers, PTBT and NPT does the goal of most nations represented at the world disarmament conference was focused on overall reduction of armaments of qualitative nature)

Continued .... Comprehensive/ Total: Is one in which almost all nations involve themselves for comprehensive disarmament process covering certain or all categories of weapons in other words, the signatory states are interested in abolition, controlling, limiting or even prohibiting armaments of all categories in addition to the above disarmament programs there are certain ongoing current programmes like; Nuclear, Non Nuclear/ Unilateral, Bilateral, Multilateral/ Partial or Complete/ Moral and Material.

Arms Race Arms Race is a process in which two are more nations build up armaments in competition with each other. Competition /race between two or more countries or coalition of countries that results in cumulative proliferation. Vertical Increase- increase in capabilities of existing nuclear powers Horizontal Increase- Increase in number of states that posse’s nuclear weapon . An increase in the destructive power possessed by parties.

Definition It can be defined as competition between two or more countries or coalition of countries that results in cumulate proliferation of weapons. Causes of Arms Race: 1) Qualitative Arms Proliferation 2) Insecurity arising out of fear 3) Revolution in Military Affairs 4) World Production 5) Export/ Sale of Weapons 6) Prestige/ Status

Arms Control It means a cooperative approach or bilateral or multilateral approach to armament policy that regulates:- Numbers, Types, Characteristics features , Quality , Deployment, Use of Armed Forces and Armament Term was coined by the western Countries It covers/governs all types of weapons/weapon system/ it focuses more on nuclear weapons. These efforts were taken by USA and USSR and other Nuclear Weapons State.

Why Arms Control is Necessary? Sources of Potential War. Perpetual Dander to world Peace Can attain better security through higher standard of living Greater prestige Effort/ method to check war

Objectives of Arms Control Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons Objectives of Arms Control Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Reduce the Risk of Nuclear War Limit Nuclear Testing Reduce/ Limit Conventional Weapons Prohibit the use of Chemical and Biological Weapons Control the risk of certain Inhuman Weapons Strengthening Democracy International / Co-operation Development, Liberty, Justice, Equality, Welfare, Growth Avoid/ Control Arms Race Eliminate / Avoid Wasteful/ Expenditure

Types of Arms control: Arms Reduction: It calls for reduction in both conventional as well as nuclear arms; such a reduction may include both quality as well as quantity. A number of agreements have been signed which are bilateral and multilateral in nature. Arms Limitation: It means internationally agreed or unilateral measures that restricts or limits both qualitative and quantitative components of weapons including armed forces. The term arms limitation has been used by Eastern European Countries, Non-Aligned Countries and Neutral Countries. It is primarily designed to limit impact of war and also prevent its accidental outlay.

Continued .... Arms Regulation: The regulation of armaments calls for restricting of certain or all categories are types including both conventional and nuclear the term arms regulation has been used by UNO in the charter of UNO to indicate efforts taken by Nations to avoid confrontation. The term was also used in Hague Conference and Geneva Conference, this regulation contains certain protective guaranties for Prisoners of War and sick and wounded in the battle field. Arms Holiday: detente It can avoid Tension, Misunderstanding, Suspicion, Crisis and War.

Continued .... Arms Moratorium: It is a ban on specific types or categories of weapons including nuclear testing of weapons such moratorium can be bilateral or multilateral in nature. It may restrict sale of arms and technology to third world countries. Arms Transfer: The transferring of arms is called as the arms transfer. Arms Aid: Giving of arms as Free/Gift/Loan/Exchange/Payment is called as Arms Aid. Arms Sale: The sale of arms is called as the arms sale. It is selling of arms to other countries for payment.

Difference between Arms Control and Disarmament Both the terms are often confused and taken identical but in reality they differ in each other . They deal with different aspect of the same problem. Let us see the difference in detail;

Disarmament Arms Control Calls for Global Destruction of Weapons and Abandoning of all armed forces.   It means a plan or system for elimination abolition limitation and reduction of certain categories of weapons. It also includes military bases and budget. It means a cooperative approach or a multilateral approach to the armament policy in general that regulates the numbers, types, characteristics, deployment and employment of armed forces. The term is used by western countries and it is a step by step approach towards disarmament.

Continued ....