Marek Thee - Böcker

Since World War II, technological arms competition has increasingly militarized international political relations. The reversal of this by arms control and disarmament agreements is largely dependent on the provision of well researched information about what is happening the world military sector from an objective, non-military and neutral source. SIPRI has provided such a source, and this collection of articles celebrating its twentieth anniversary reflects the broad scope of the Institute's studies in the dynamics of armaments, disarmaments, and arms control.These articles summarize the state of play on a wide range of the topics on which SIPRI has focused. These include world military expenditure, military research and development, the arms trade, nuclear weapon stockpiles, nuclear weapon testing, the neutron bomb, the military use of outer space, chemical and biological warfare, nuclear deterrence and nuclear disengagement, the comprehensive test ban, the United Nations and disarmament, and public opinion on peace and war. These papers provide facts and figures, analysis of past trends and future perspectives, and SIPRI's conclusions and recommendations.

In the early 1980s there had been an upsurge of public concern over the nuclear threat to Europe. Already saturated with nuclear weapons, Europe faced controversial new deployments and there was alarm over military strategies for nuclear war in the region. It is in this context that the idea of nuclear weapon-free zones had captured the popular imagination and became a political issue in Europe. Not only would such zones build confidence and raise the nuclear threshold, but they would be first steps towards a more comprehensive elimination of nuclear weapons.Originally published in 1983 Nuclear Disengagement in Europe probes the question of nuclear weapon-free zones in the region. Pugwash and SIPRI arranged a meeting at which an international team of lawyers, scientists, politicians and military experts gave background information and provided an appraisal of problems regarding the zone initiatives as well as benefits that would accrue. Possible elements in a European zone arrangement were elaborated on and procedures towards the establishment of such a zone were suggested.

In the early 1980s there had been an upsurge of public concern over the nuclear threat to Europe. Already saturated with nuclear weapons, Europe faced controversial new deployments and there was alarm over military strategies for nuclear war in the region. It is in this context that the idea of nuclear weapon-free zones had captured the popular imagination and became a political issue in Europe. Not only would such zones build confidence and raise the nuclear threshold, but they would be first steps towards a more comprehensive elimination of nuclear weapons.Originally published in 1983 Nuclear Disengagement in Europe probes the question of nuclear weapon-free zones in the region. Pugwash and SIPRI arranged a meeting at which an international team of lawyers, scientists, politicians and military experts gave background information and provided an appraisal of problems regarding the zone initiatives as well as benefits that would accrue. Possible elements in a European zone arrangement were elaborated on and procedures towards the establishment of such a zone were suggested.

This book, first published in 1980, presents a comprehensive and detailed look at the problem of international militarisation. It examines the key issues, the meaning of the problem, the international context and the spread of militarism to the Third World, its fast growth and dangerous implications – including to the development of often poorer countries.

This book, first published in 1980, presents a comprehensive and detailed look at the problem of international militarisation. It examines the key issues, the meaning of the problem, the international context and the spread of militarism to the Third World, its fast growth and dangerous implications – including to the development of often poorer countries.

First published in 1986, Military Technology, Military Strategy and the Arms Race argues that a principal factor contributing to the arms race is the military research and development (R and D) sector. It traces the arms race since World War II and explores the relationship between the emergence of new weapon technology, the development of new weapon systems and their impact on strategic thinking. It considers the positions for both the United States and its allies in NATO and for the erstwhile Soviet Union. It argues that military R and D, which consumes an increasing proportion of total funds spent on R and D has developed a self-sustaining technological momentum, which is baked by a powerful military -industrial -bureaucratic- technological complex and is increasingly out of control of political leaders.The book argues that negotiations to limit the numbers of weapons fail to address the main problem, and that more emphasis should be given to considering ways of limiting and controlling military R and D. It concludes by proposing a radical shift in policy to achieve this. This historical reference work is important for scholars and researchers of military studies, defence studies, international relations, diplomacy and international politics.

First published in 1986, Military Technology, Military Strategy and the Arms Race argues that a principal factor contributing to the arms race is the military research and development (R and D) sector. It traces the arms race since World War II and explores the relationship between the emergence of new weapon technology, the development of new weapon systems and their impact on strategic thinking. It considers the positions for both the United States and its allies in NATO and for the erstwhile Soviet Union. It argues that military R and D, which consumes an increasing proportion of total funds spent on R and D has developed a self-sustaining technological momentum, which is baked by a powerful military -industrial -bureaucratic- technological complex and is increasingly out of control of political leaders.The book argues that negotiations to limit the numbers of weapons fail to address the main problem, and that more emphasis should be given to considering ways of limiting and controlling military R and D. It concludes by proposing a radical shift in policy to achieve this. This historical reference work is important for scholars and researchers of military studies, defence studies, international relations, diplomacy and international politics.