Publication details
International interventions and the creation of permissive conditions for future conflict – The issue of weapons stockpile security and management during and after intervention.,
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | SGEM: Political Sciences Proceedings, Vol. I |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Political sciences |
| Keywords | weapons stockpiles; armed conflict; intervention; arms trade |
| Description | Responsible arms transfers are an aspiring norm among peace advocacy groups as well as renowned international security scholars. As the adoption of a weak Arms Trade Treaty attest however, they have yet to become a staple of the political arena. Nevertheless, responsible arms transfers by established democracies are at least on the international agenda. This paper provides evidence for a much more overlooked and often more damaging source of weapons and ammunition to fuel ongoing and future conflicts in and around the target country. Although stockpile security has not gone completely unnoticed by the international community, this paper shows it has received far less attention than evidence would demand. The presented research is built upon the comparison of cases of Iraq and Libya. These countries are presently awash with small arms and weapons, many of which come from former or current government stockpiles. Because ammunition can account for as much as 30% of the costs of operating an armed non-state group, the paper also focuses on the sustaining character of poorly managed government stockpiles. Overall, the paper provides evidence for the argument that far above potential arms imports – often contravening imposed arms embargoes – government weapons stockpiles should represent a higher priority target in international intervention campaigns. As exemplified by the studied cases, the significance of their secure management does not lessen throughout the course of international forces withdrawal. |