Jr. Model United Nations Preparatory Conference The Global Arms Trade Presented by: Dr. Lisa Baglione, St. Joseph’s University Wednesday, March 12 & Thursday, March 13, 2014 Temple University, Fox School of Business · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Global Arms Trade & Efforts to Curb It The Arms Trade Treaty, 2013 & today

Outline I.Why should we worry about small/light arms? II.What is the global arms trade? / Who participates in it? III.What has the international community done to address the arms trade? IV.What are the prospects for truly limiting the arms trade?

Why Should We Worry about Small/ Light Arms? When we think about violence threatening human life, what devices tend to kill humans? Submarines, tanks, planes dropping bombs that might be nuclear – yes, typically in interstate war, but…

What are small/light arms? “Conventional (i.e. non-nuclear or bio-chemical – these types are referred to as weapons of mass destruction, WMD) weapons that can be carried by an individual or group of individuals including revolvers, machine guns, hand-held grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns and missile systems and mortars of calibers less than 100 mm” anti-tankanti-aircraft

Small/Light Arms as Sources of Death & Destruction? Most common type of conflict since end of the Cold War in 1991 – intrastate conflict. What’s the difference? “Of the four million war-related deaths occurring globally in the last decade of the 20th century, 90 percent were civilians. Of that 90 percent, 80 percent were women and children. The vast majority of these deaths were at the hands of small arms and light weapons, people getting caught in the crossfire of a local or regional conflict.” -WAC of Philadelphia, Arms Trade Fact Sheet

Small/Light Arms Just think about what you’ve heard about in the news lately: Syria, Central African Republic, Myanmar, South Sudan & more Weapons of choice? - Small arms are easily carried (by hand or in a vehicle) and so in this globalized world, can move and be moved; typically they are easily used

Worrying about Small/Light Arms? How is the post-Cold War (CW) era different from the last 20 years? Who are new “actors” around today? Terrorists, separatists, drug cartels, organized criminals These are precisely the groups/people that benefit from and use small/light arms

What is the Global Arms Trade? The transfer of arms around the world Countries trade them for money Countries give them as aid After countries trade/give away arms, they don’t know what happens to these weapons; these weapons last a long time! Arms dealers get them and trade them to all sorts of people/groups, often illegally!

Viktor Bout –Arms trader merchant-of-death/ merchant-of-death/

Which Countries Are Involved? Big, powerful countries are the most important sources of the arms trade – “ The three biggest manufacturers of small arms are the United States, Russia and France, accounting for almost 75 percent of all global arms sales between 2003 and 2010.” See the map:

What has the world done? Arms Trade Treaty -

So Problem is Solved, Right? Treaty will come into force when 50 countries ratify. What’s the difference between signing & ratifying? E.g. how would the US ratify? What are the complications related to ratifying? Let’s think about the US …. Foreign policy considerations Domestic politics – principles, economy, politics

What might complicate… The signing and ratification process in YOUR country? What institutions ratify? Who really has power? People? Representative Institutions/Elected Leaders matter? An elite?/single party?/wealthy class? Military? Military Industry?

Prospects for Limiting the Arms Trade What do you think? Will this Treaty be ratified by 50 countries? Will the Treaty reduce small arms and the deaths they cause?