Lawmakers, Guns, Money: How the Proposed Arms Trade Treaty Can Target Armed Violence by Reducing Small Arms Light Weapons Transfers to Non-State Groups
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Authors
Biggs, Adam Arthur
Issue Date
2011
Volume
44
Issue
Type
Journal Article
Language
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION|Every sixty seconds, a person dies as a consequence of armed violence around the world. Many authors in the field of arms reform have noted that the current proliferation of small arms and light weapons has fostered armed violence. These authors have explained that small arms and light weapons enabled killing across Africa, promoted ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, enhanced the capabilities of terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq, and allowed drug cartels to flourish in Columbia. Michael Klare, Director of Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College, contended that a proliferation of weaponry coupled with social issues has resulted in an increased likelihood of armed conflict and bloodshed. Non-state groups, such as terrorist organizations, are among the actors that have perpetuated armed violence and conflict. Recently, foreign policy makers have begun to principally focus upon addressing violent non-state groups as opposed to competing states. While violent non-state groups are not a new phenomenon, globalization coupled with increased access to lethal arms has created a notably complex predicament for foreign policy decision makers. Specifically, the ease of access to small arms and light weapons has made the threat of non-state violence omnipresent. The global community has allowed the legal and illegal inundation of weapons to operate without restriction for a substantial time...
Description
Citation
44 Creighton L. Rev. 1311 (2010-2011)
Publisher
Creighton University School of Law