International Patterns of Arms Proliferation

The aim of this book is to trace the historical development of international patterns of arms proliferation and identify the antecedents responsible for their establishment. A classification and analysis of proliferation patterns for the purpose of examining their comparative impact on global security is addressed. The categorization of arms proliferation streams into rigid patterns is not entirely possible since each case of proliferation incorporate both aspects of demand and supply based factors that are in some instances security, economic or ideologically driven at the same time. Terrorist based patterns of proliferation, for instance, are often interwoven with other stream making control very difficult. The book thus interrogates the imperative for control by situating the problem within the theoretical discourse of Arms Control Theory and the practice of National Security.