The multi-billion dollar business of the international conventionalarms trade involves virtually every country in the world. Aroundthe globe, people's lives are being irrevocably changed by theeffects of guns, tanks, and missiles. These weapons have thepotential to cause a deadly and current threat - one responsiblefor hundreds of thousands of deaths a year.
This succinct and accessible new book explores the complexitiesand realities of the global conventional weapons trade. The firstbook on the subject in nearly a decade, The International ArmsTrade provides an engaging introduction to the trade, theeffects, and the consequences of these weapons. The authors tracethe history of the arms trade and examine how it has evolved sincethe end of the Cold War. In particular, they assess the role of thelargest arms exporters and importers, the business of sellingconventional arms around the world, and shed new light on theillicit arms trade and the shadowy dealers who profit from theirdeadly commerce. The book also looks closely at the devastatingeffect the business can have on countries, societies, andindividuals and concludes with an evaluation of the variousexisting control strategies and the potential for future controlopportunities.
The International Arms Trade will be invaluable forstudents and scholars of international relations and securitystudies, and for policymakers and anyone interested inunderstanding more about the conventional arms trade.