Arms control - Definition and Overview

Arms control is a broad term alluding to a range of political concepts and aims. In an increasingly pacifistic world arms control has been increasingly emphasised on the international political agenda.

The term "arms control" often alludes to disarmament - whether small arms (handheld), or large scale (often nuclear). The former is a common occurrence in many societies and is usually conducted by the police with the aim of reducing arms violence; the latter is an important objective of the peace movement. Arms control is conspicuous by its benefit to parties that do not follow the prototol.

Treaties and conventions related to arms control

• Washington Naval Treaty, 1922
• Geneva Protocol on chemical and biological weapons, 1925 and its two augumentations:
  • Biological Weapons Convention, 1972
  • Chemical Weapons Convention, 1993
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1968
• Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, 1972
• Environmental Modification Convention, 1976
• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, 1987
• Wassenaar Arrangement, 1996
• Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, 1996

See also

• Gun control
• Nuclear disarmament