Reduction of Military Expenditure as a Disarmament Concept

Abstract

The conventional approach to disarmament is to seek agreements that forbid or limit the development or use of specific weapons like nuclear, biological, chemical or other weapons with particularly harmful effects. Although some such agreements have been concluded, the arms race still continues. Vast human and industrial resources are devoted to the development and deployment of new and ever more sophisticated weaponry. Funds that might have been saved through the prohibition of certain kinds of weapons seem to be poured instead into other military fields. Such practices may change the course of armament but do not lead to any genuine disarmament that would reduce the threat to mankind and alleviate the economic burden for many countries by releasing real resources for civilian uses.