Militarisation and Arms Control

bicc projects in this topic focus on the effects of militarisation and weapons proliferation. bicc’s work aims to reduce their negative impact by strengthening arms control measures at various levels of society.

The accessibility and quality of weaponry significantly impact the motivations and prospects for engaging in acts of violence. They affect the probability of engaging in violent conflict and influence the actions of state and non-state entities involved. bicc researches the diverse consequences of armament, militarisation and weapons control at various levels to reduce their potentially detrimental impact on societies.

First, we map the global dynamics of militarisation as reflected in government defence spending, armed forces personnel and heavy weapons systems. In doing so, we advance knowledge of the so-called security–development nexus by researching how militarisation affects development.

Second, we are curious about the local consequences of militarisation and international arms and technology transfers, with a special focus on developing countries and regions of conflict.

We are particularly interested in the effects of arms transfers on regional conflicts and human rights, as well as changes in military-government and military–society ties.

Third, we examine ways to regulate access to small arms and light weapons (SALW). Creating and delivering national and regional training programmes, assisting in harmonising standards for the management of weapons and ammunition, and engaging in other related capacity-building activities in collaboration with national, regional and international partner organisations are all part of our strategy for achieving effective arms control.

We also aim to develop evidence-based approaches to understanding and mitigating the problems posed by the illicit cross-border trafficking of SALW, the challenges of dealing with SALW in transitional settings and the stockpiling of SALW in a civilian context.