Arms control

Arms control is a broad term alluding to a range of political concepts and aims. In international affairs, arms control generally refers to limitations on the development, production, stockpiling, proliferation, and usage of weaponry. Arms control typically takes the form of multi-lateral efforts to agree to such limitations upon consenting participants in treaties and agreements, although it can also include efforts by a nation or group of nations to enforce limitations upon a non-consenting country.

Enactment

While arms control is often seen as synonomous with disarmament, this is not always the case. Especially in international affairs, arms control often does not affect current weapons or force their demobilization, but instead limits future development, production, and use of weapons. Multi-lateral arms control treaties are often seen by participants as a way to avoid costly arms races which would prove counter-productive to national aims. Some are used as ways to stop the spread of certain military technologies (such as nuclear weaponry or missile technology) in return for assurances to potential developers that they will not be victims of those technologies. Additionally, some arms control agreements are entered in order to limit the damage done by warfare, especially to civilians and the environment, which is seen as bad for all participants regardless of who wins a war.

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While arms control treaties are seen by many peace proponents as a key tool against war, by the participants, they are often seen as simply ways to limit the high costs of the development and building of weapons, and even reduce the costs associated with war itself. Arms control can even be a way of maintaining the viability of military action by limiting those weapons that would make war so costly and destructive as to make it no longer a viable tool for national policy.

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