Weapons Proliferation

• Proliferation of weapons continue to pose a serious threat to international security
• Arms race, regional competition, and spread of weapon’s technology
• Proliferation is best understood as the rapid increase in the number of destructive capability of armaments

Effects of Proliferation

• Weapon’s proliferation exposes civilian populations to great danger
• Has caused greater civilian casualties and greater destruction than in this century than in any previous four centuries combined
• Proliferation diverts resources from other domestic uses such as education and health care

Types of Proliferation

• Type I - Vertical proliferation of conventional weapons. Vertical proliferation is the build up of weapons in one country.
• Type II – Horizontal proliferation of conventional weapons. Horizontal proliferation is the spread of weapons or weapons technology across country borders.
• Type III – Vertical proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
• Type IV – Horizontal proliferation of mass weapons
  
  
• Conventional weapons may include guns, airplanes, tanks, warships ,etc.
• Weapons of mass destruction are those special weapons that have a devastating effect even when used in small number
• They tend to kill more indiscriminately than conventional weapons
• These include – nuclear bombs, chemical weapons, and biological weapons

Type One - Conventional

• Vertical proliferation can threaten international security because of two reasons:
• First – Arms Build up
• Second – Social Cost
• But can all these lead to war?

Vertical proliferation can threaten international security because of two reasons: First - Arms build up. Second - Social cost.

But can all these lead to war?

Proliferation

• Timing and proliferation
• Proliferation increases likelihood of conflict
• All major countries in the world have developed sizable arsenals of conventional weapons

Expenditure

• U.S spends over $250 billion per year on building and supporting conventional weapons
• Example: In 1994 alone the defense budget was $263.7 billion- supporting an active-duty military strength of 1.525 million soldiers
• The budget supported a force structure composed of:
• 10 army divisions
• 12 navy aircraft carrier battle groups
• 13 air combat wings
• Defense expenditure amounted to $1000.00 per individual citizen

Where Does the US Rank?

• There is definitely a trade-off between guns and butter
• Compared with other industrial countries, U.S. ranks number one in military spending
• Spends 4 times more than Russia
• U.S ranks 4th in the world in literacy levels
• 9th in public expenditure for education
• 13th in average scores of students on science and math tests
• 21st in infant mortality
• 25th in percentage of population with access to sanitation

Type Two - Horizontal

• This is flow of conventional weapons across borders
• Arms dealers