Feedback of The Corrections of Global Arms Trade and Security

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Regulating Global Arms Trade and Security Through Increased Transparency
and Reduced Military Spending
Supervisor:
Student:
ID:
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Dubai, UAE
March , 2018
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Approval
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Abstract
The fruitful arrangement and appropriation of a worldwide Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
universal weapons exchanges would reinforce both the security interests of the United
States and its endeavours to advance human rights and dependability abroad. The ATT
is a global treaty signed in 2014 that sets out forbiddances to stop the worldwide
exchange between conditions of weapons, weapons and related things when it is
known they would be utilized to perpetrate or encourage genocide, wrongdoings
against mankind, or atrocities. Nevertheless, a strong connection between military
expenditures and military capabilities is generally recognized, and it has been often
proposed that agreements by countries to mutually limit military spending could go a
long way to meeting the objectives of arms control. However, a spending limitation
need not preclude other kinds of agreements which could guard against such dangers.
The main disadvantage is that to implement a spending limitation so as to properly
safeguard the national security of all parties, copious amounts of national information
would have to be made available. Governments are progressively getting to be
noticeably mindful of the outcomes of questionable arms arrangements and tend to
feel more constrained to decline an arrangement if its authenticity is addressed. To
sum up the investigation, the small arms wrangle about is described by a focused
regularizing condition. Given the tremendous barrier spending plans of numerous
nations, it can be suggested that military power and the obtaining of arms is more
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about the representative importance and national renown than the dread of real
dangers. This research paper aims to investigate the repercussions of increased
transparency and reduced military spanning on global security. Furthermore, the
impacts of such areevaluated with respect to regulating Global Arms Trade.
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Acknowledgement
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Table of Contents
Approval ......................................................................................................................... 4
Abstract ........................................................................................................................... 5
Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................... 7
List of Figures ............................................................................................................... 10
1.1: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 11
1.1.1 Terminological definitions:.................................................................................. 18
1.1.2 The Vital Role that UN played ............................................................................ 21
1.2 Problem Statement .................................................................................................. 27
1.3 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 30
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study.......................................................................... 33
2.0 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 36
2.1: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 36
2.2: Research oinion...................................................................................................... 38
2.3: Research Philosophy .............................................................................................. 40
2.4: Research Design .................................................................................................... 41
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2.5: Research Approach ................................................................................................ 42
2.6 Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 45
3.0 Literature Review.................................................................................................... 46
3.1: Recent trends.......................................................................................................... 46
3.1.1 Major Exporters and Importersof Conventional Weapons .................................. 52
3. 2 Effective Arms Trade Treaty ................................................................................. 56
3.3 The UAE, National Security Logic of the possibility of an Arms Trade Treaty .... 62
3.4Arms Trade Treaty Myths and Realities .................................................................. 65
3.5 Raising Global Standards to Meet U.S. Standards for Arms Trade........................ 69
3.6 Serious Dialog and Demagoguery .......................................................................... 70
3.7 Constructivism in International Security and Strategy ........................................... 72
4.0Analysis.................................................................................................................... 79
5.0 Lessons Learned: The ATT in 2018 ....................................................................... 84
6.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 87
7.0 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 90
References ..................................................................................................................... 93
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Imports of hand guns and other form of light weapons in UAE during 2012
ans 2013 ....................................................................................................................... 32
Figure 2: Research oinion ............................................................................................ 38
Figure 3: Research philosophy ..................................................................................... 40
Figure 4: Research design ............................................................................................ 42
Figure 5: UAE military expenditure ............................................................................ 49
Figure 5: Saudi’s military expenditure ........................................................................ 59
Figure 6: A harsh reality .............................................................................................. 65
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1.1: Introduction
This research paper intends to investigate the repercussions of increased transparency
and reduced military spanning on global security. Furthermore, the impacts of such
areevaluated with respect to regulating Global Arms Trade.
Hence, in order to augment the clarity of this research paper, the researcher here has
constructed few research objectives. Adhering to the research objectives, the
researcher presented the research questions in this particular segment.
Research objectives
 To investigate about the total worth of global arms trade and how it impacts
nations
 To investigate how military spending can be reduced and transparency about
nation’s weapon purchase can be enhanced
 To investigate the impacts of transparency and reduced military spending on
regulating global arms trade
 To seek recommendations for better regulations of global arms trade
Research Questions
 What is the total worth of global arms trade and how it impacts nations?
 How global arms trade impacts the regime of UAE?
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 What are the impacts of transparency and reduced military spending on
regulating global arms trade?
 What are the necessary recommendations for better regulations of global arms
trade?
The global arms trade is a massive enterprise consisting of nations, companies and
other third parties trading in weapons. To place things into perspective, military
consumption achieved a new high in 2016 where $2,460 billion dollars were spent on
weapons.1The growth has been achieved contrary to expectations, since there have
been efforts by non-governmental organizations and other third parties to reduce arms
sale in the world 2. This is to a great extent because of various national techniques for
investigating fares and imports, the nonattendance of standard strategies on gathering
arms trade information and the privacy of this information in a few nations which
uncovered the absence of openness in the arms undertaking.3The figure accessible,
demonstrates that worldwide arms trade has in truth expanded in the most recent
decades, denoting an upward pattern in the arms trade regardless of the progressing
1
SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) Yearbook 2017 available at:
http://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2011/04/04A last accessed 2017-09-18
2
García, Denise (2011) Disarmament Diplomacy and Human Security, Regimes norms and moral
progress in international relations, Routledge
3
Grillot, Suzette R. (2011) “Global Gun Control: Examining the consequences of competing
international norms”, Global Governance, 17(4), pp. 529-555
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global budgetary turmoil.4Another pattern in contemporary arms business is that the
majority of arms traded have found there way into countries with clashes. 5 The
problem has been intensified by the fact that arms trading is such a lucrative business.
As a result, many nations, companies, and individuals participating in the trade have
little intensive to monitor the trade if it means reduced sales. The biggest arms
exporters and weapons makers are also the five permanent members of the United
Nations Security Council (US, Russia, France, UK and China) and the G8.6Some of
these intense countries (US, China, Russia) are likewise the most hesitant players
inside arms control activities.7The participation of the world’s greatest nations in the
global arms trade points to two critical factors that make teh vice hard to control.
It is evident that the nations hold immense power with regards to controling entities
that are required to put in place regulations to control the arms trade.8 For example, the
UN Security Council has been one among few organization seeking for the control of
global arms trade. However, since its top five permanent members benefit immensley
4
5
6
Akerman, Anders, and Anna Larsson Seim. "The global arms trade network 1950–2007." Journal of
Comparative Economics 42, no. 3 (2014), p.536.
7
De Nevers, R. (2007) “Imposing International Norms: Great Powers and Norm Enforcement”,
International Studies Review, 9(1), pp. 53–80
8
Ibid.
13
from the activity, efforts to put the desired regulations in place have not borne the
desired fruits.
Secondly, transparency in how the trade is conducted has been a problem
considering the power that the wealthy nations wield.9 Therefore, if the endeavour to
control the global arms trade is to be successfull, the wealthy nations who are
responsible for 70% of the trade have to carry more responsibilities than is currently
the case.10
Every year, 50,000 to 100,000 people around the globe die as a result of weapons sold
to corrupt administrations engaging in either was or clashes.11For instance, 2.2 million
people have died in armed conflict since the cold war ended decades ago. Scores
others have been injured or left homeless as a result of wars where weapons are used
heavily. 12 Notwithstanding the human toll this cycle of viciousness undermines
monetary improvement, political security stability, and growth especially in war-torn
areas. The fruitful arrangement and appropriation of a worldwide Arms Trade Treaty
(ATT) universal weapons exchanges, aims at reinforcing both the security interests of
the United States and its endeavours to advance human rights and dependability
9
Ibid.
10
11
"Killer Facts: The Scale Of The Global Arms Trade", Amnesty.Org, 2017,
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/09/killer-facts-the-scale-of-the-global-arms-trade/.
12
Ibid.
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abroad.13While serving as one among the major global arms trader, the United States
has been vastly interested in controlling the practice through appropriate standards so
as to reduce the toll on human life and suffering especially in war-torn areas.14 For
instance, the country has maintained an interest in finding lasting solutions to peace in
the Middle-East where the negative consequences of an unregulated arms trade are
largely evident.
Over the past decade, Soviet total military expenditures are estimated to have been
about $1,361 billion; US total military expenditures, $974 billion. In response to the
challenge to the West posed by the Soviet military build-up, the United States has
been engaged since early 1981 in a sustained effort to bolster the strength of its armed
forces while at the same time advancing bold proposals for verifiable arms
reductions. 15 Soon after his inauguration, President Reagan proposed a program to
enhance US military strength which would require military expenditures to increase at
an average annual rate of 7.5 percent for the period 1983-1987.16However, things took
a different turn duruing president Obama’s adminstration where the United states
13
Hopf, Ted (1998) “The promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory”International
Security, 23(1), pp. 171-200
14
Patrick, Stewart. "Weak states and global threats: Fact or fiction?." Washington Quarterly 29, no. 2
(2006): p.29.
15
Grillot, Suzette R. (2011) “Global Gun Control: Examining the consequences of competing
international norms”, Global Governance, 17(4), pp. 529-555
16
Matthew, Richard A., McDonald, Bryan & Rutherford, Kenneth R. (red.) (2004) Landmines and
human security: international politics and war’s hidden legacy. Albany, NY: State University of New
York Press
15
agreed to be party to the ATT.17 However, despite the provisions laid down in the
treaty, it has still proved difficult to track arms trade due to lack of transparency by the
major nations in the trade.
In December 2006, the UN General Assembly received determination 61/89
“Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: building up basic universal benchmarks for the
import, fare, and exchange of ordinary arms,” prompting master talks on the
recommendation. In 2009, UN part states drove by the UK and co-creators, including
Australia, supported a determination to arrange “a lawfully restricting instrument on
the most elevated conceivable normal global guidelines for the exchange of regular
arms.”18 At the request of the United States, the arranging meeting must concur on the
bargain message by agreement. 19 Progress to the endeavour was witnessed in 2012
when it became evident that the key players to the trade were ready to sign the treaty.
As pointed out by Garcia, the willingness to make ATT a reality was a step in the right
direction towards combating the negative effects of global arms trade.20Sucess was
finally achieved in 2014 where five of the permanent members to the UN Security
Council signed the treaty, thereby, meeting the quorum.The treaty targets to regulate
17
"Killer Facts: The Scale Of The Global Arms Trade"
18
Picarelli, John T. (2008) “Transnational Organised Crime” in: Paul Williams (ed), Security Studies: an
introduction, pp. 453-466
19
Newman, Edward (2001) “Human Security and Constructivism”International Studies Perspectives
2(3), pp. 239–251.
20
Garcia, Denise. "Global Norms on Arms: The Significance of the Arms Trade Treaty for Global
Security in World Politics." Global Policy 5, no. 4 (2014): p.425-426.
16
the sale and purchase of conventional weapons to enusre that they are not used to
perpetrate any human violations.
A strong connection between military expenditures and military capabilities is
generally recognized, and it has been often proposed that agreements by countries to
mutually limit military spending could go a long way to meeting the objectives of
arms control. For example, the Final Document of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) First Special Session on Disarmament in 1978 considered that
“gradual reductions of military expenditures on a mutually agreed basis would be a
measure that would contribute to curbing the arms race and would increase the
possibilities of reallocating resources now being used for military purposes to
economic and social development, particularly for the benefit of developing
countries.”The same sentiments have been shared today in the sense that more human
lives will be saved if arms trade is regulated to ensure that the weapons do not fall into
the wrong hands.21 The case is especially true for the Middle-East, a region that has
experienced turmoil for the better part of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The aim of this research Thesis, is to briefly review recent international efforts
to address and overcome some of the difficulties involved with regulating the arms
trade with transparency and increased military expenditures being key among them.
21
Pierre, Andrew J. The global politics of arms sales. Princeton University Press, 2014, pp.16-18.
17
The research paper is essentillay constructed adhering to the above stated questions.
Since, it happends to be a descriptive research, the researcher has considered a
secondary qualitative research methodology in order to conduct the entire thesis. The
methodology portion will again be discussed in the later chapters however, this
segment introduces the adhered research methodology in a brief manner. Furthermore,
the research intends to conduct a certain thematic analysis of the data obtained from
exsisting literature, articles journals and many more.
1.1.1 Terminological definitions:
Tranparency refers to the inability of key players to reveal who they are selling their
weapons to and how they are being used. The shortcoming can only be addressed by
individual nations since the ATT does not put any measures in place for such a case to
avoid violating the sovereignity of nations. Military expenditure has also been blamed
for rising global instability especially in war-torn areas. It has been argued that a
country that spends more on weapons than it is necesarry could be serving a hidden
agenda, such as, supplying militias with the same weapons, thereby, contributing to
instability and human rights violations. 22 In this regard, there is a need to foster
22
Capie, David. "Localization as resistance: The contested diffusion of small arms norms in Southeast
Asia." Security Dialogue 39, no. 6 (2008): p. 639.
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transparency in the gobal arms trade while regulating military expenditure to
guarantee that weapons do not fall in to the wrong hands.
The concept of military expenditure limitation has both strong advantages and
strong disadvantages.Endeavors to control direct small arms and light weapons have
developed at the neighborhood, at national and global levels by an extensive variety of
performers such as private individuals and nongovernmental organizations. 23 What
makes the trade in small arms harder to check is the way that these merchandise exist
in a three-level market; a controlled legitimate market, an unregulated dim market and
an illicit underground market. The illegal market comprisesof legitimate weapons
exchanges that are bought by reliable third parties who then sell them to other
individuals with no regard to their intended use.In the end, it is the circumvention of
national or universal laws and abuse of escape clauses to supply arms to ill-conceived
end-clients that causes problems. Given the spread of the problem, the regulation of
small arms the requirement for worldwide standards and control measures has been
advanced by states, NGOs and most observably the United Nations. Among these
administrative desires is the inclination for more prominent openness in the arms
23
Ibid.
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trade.24 There is constrained information accessible on arms supply and exchanges and
this likewise makes it harder to appraise the extent of the unlawful market.
In 2001, the UN facilitated a Conference on curbing Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms
and Light Weapons in all of its aspects, which brought about a “Program of Action”.25
The Program of Action (PoA) can be viewed as the antecedent to the Arms Trade
Treaty, yet just a politically authoritative understanding and constrained to the
unlawful trade in small arms. In spite of this, it is the most complete universal exertion
up to this point with respect to the trade in small arms and has made a space for
trading data and regulating positions amongst states and NGOs. In spite of this, it is
the most complete universal exertion up to this point with respect to the trade in small
arms and has made a space for trading data and regulating positions amongst states
and NGOs.26However, the program has failed to achieve the desired results prompting
more talks to be established to regards to regulating arms trade.
The treaty majorly came into force during 24th December 2014 27. As of now, the
ATT has taken the form of an international treaty that majorly regulates international
trade in all forms of conventional arms and essentially seeks to prevent or eradicate ant
24
25
Collins, Alan. Contemporary security studies. Oxford University Press, 2016, p.193-195.
26
Hartung, William D. (2008) “The International Arms Trade” in: Paul Williams (ed) Security Studies:
an introduction, pp. 345-360
27
Romanyshyn, I. (2015). Explaining EU effectiveness in multilateral institutions: the case of the arms
trade treaty negotiations. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 53(4), 875-892.
20
form of illicit trade or diversion of the any form of conventional arms by establishing
essential international standards that aim to govern the transfers of arms. Furthermore,
the body majorly contributes to both regional and international peace, stability and
security, reducing any form of human inflicted atrocities, promoting transparency, co-
operation and responsible action within the international framework. 28
1.1.2 The Vital Role that UN played
The United Nations, assumed a vital part in setting the issue of small arms on the
universal plan and is as of now occupied with the arrangement of making the global
Arms Trade Treaty as effective as desired.29The activity was initially started by Nobel
Prize laureates, committed states and NGOs inside the fields of arms control,
improvement, peace-keeping and human rights. The new treaty would build up
worldwide principles to manage the lawful trade in little and major ordinary arms.
Backers of the treatyare confident that an effective ATT will go a long way towards
reducing human suffering as a result of a poorly regulated global arms trade. The goal
28
Stavrianakis, A. (2016). Legitimising liberal militarism: politics, law and war in the Arms Trade
Treaty. Third World Quarterly, 37(5), 840-865.
29
Garcia, Denise. "Global Norms on Arms,” p. 427.
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is to foster transparency into the trade without infringing upon the sovereignity of
nations.30
The thought behind an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was first created by Nobel Peace
Laureates, most eminently, oscar Arias, and a former President of Costa Rica.31 It was
noticed that the damaging impacts of the arms trade make global issues, issues for
which a global arrangement is vital. The thought was upheld by Global Civil society
associations and social developments around the world.32These gatherings, together
with various committed governments were worried about the absence of globally
concurred gauges on the exchange of arms. In 2006 the UN called for universal
transaction on a potential Global Arms Trade Treaty and from that point forward, there
have been a few multilateral gatherings and meetings regarding the matter.33 It must be
underscored that arrangements on an ATT is not an instrument for demobilization yet
rather an instrument for arms trade direction, a detail as often as possible worried by
part states in their announcements on the ATT. 34 It was chosen by the General
Assembly of the UN that individuals meet in 2012 “to expand a lawfully restricting
30
Ibid.
31
Bromley, Mark, Neil Cooper, and Paul Holtom. "The UN Arms Trade Treaty: arms export controls,
the human security agenda and the lessons of history." International Affairs 88, no. 5 (2012): p.1030.
32
Ibid.
33
Holtom, Paul. "Prohibiting Arms Transfers to Non-State Actors and the Arms Trade Treaty." The
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Resources (2012): pp.10-12.
34
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instrument on the most noteworthy conceivable regular worldwide principles for the
exchange of ordinary arms”. 35 A shared factor of these activities is the require an
incorporation of human rights and helpful concerns in regards to the exchange of arms
and for what reason they are planned.36 The UN has chosen that the gathering will
occur in an open and straightforward way, in view of agreement, to convey a sound
and strong treaty and considering the places of the part states. The reaction from states
has been blended much because of the honest to goodness reason for small arms yet
most nations are certain towards an ATT. Going by the above stats it is certain a
regulation should be imparted that necessarily aims to reduce the maiming and killing
of the people globally. Furthermore, it is crucial for the government to act now. It is
witnessed that every year millions of individuals around the globe face the adversities
that manifest from poorly regulated arms trade and simultaneous illicit arms
trafficking. As a matter of fact, it is true that hundreds of individuals are either injured
or killed. Many are brutally raped or driven out of their homeland due to illicit arms
trafficking. For others, due to unregulated arms trade, many are forced to constantly
live under the threat of violence. Any form of armed violence majorly diverts
resources away from healthcare systems, schools and even infrastructure. Therefore,
35
36
Small Arms Survey (2010) Gangs, Groups, and Guns, Oxford University Press
23
according to the researcher’s opinion it jeopardizes sustainable development and ruins
all the chances for acquiring a stable life that most of people take granted. Hence, the
consideration of UN is essential according to the context of this research. The
consideration was critical as coupled with certain growth in the illicit arms trafficking;
the world at this point faces tremendous threat to its humanity.
The expansion of small arms and light weapons has critical results for humankind
around the world and in particular, the UAE which is part of the Middle-East. In spite
of the fact, the aggregate number of losses from small arms it is stressed in the United
Nations Millennium Declaration that “the loss of life of small arms overshadows that
of every single other weapon frameworks” and make so much damage and misery
individuals that they could appropriately be named “weapons of mass obliteration”.
They effectsly affect general wellbeing and social and monetary advancement in all
districts of the world (UNODA).37 It is an issue, which is exceptionally transnational
in its inclination and in this way needs to pull in the consideration of the global group
keeping in mind the end goal to be managed in an appropriate way.38 The prepared
accessibility of small arms speaks to a deplorable improvement which is the product of
a since quite a while ago uncontrolled lawful trade, the unlawful arms venture and
37
38
Control Arms, available at http://controlarms.org/home last accessed 2012-05-23
24
post-war stays of weapons and ammo. The openness of these weapons in post-struggle
zones have clouded the line between equipped clash amongst politically and
39
financially disturbed viciousness in these areas. The issue of small arms
multiplication is at the core of human security concerns and the current consideration
given to arms control administrations portray an undeniably individualized security
talk. The rate at which conventional arms are becoming the norm in many countries
contributes towards instability in war-torn areas.40 This has prompted the development
of a transnational regularizing motivation on the need to check the dispersion of small
arms and light weapons.41
Many countries regard such information as being too sensitive to release.42 For instace,
it has been debated that such a move would compromise on the sovereignty of nations
considering that military expenditure remains a sole activity of a sovereign
nation.43Another problem is that, even with substantial information, there are serious
problems in developing fully accurate and verifiable comparisons of military spending
over time and between countries. In practical terms, the idea of a military expenditure
39
Lumpe, Lora (1999) Curbing the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Security Dialogue
30(1), pp. 151-164
40
Capie, David. "Localization as resistance,” p.640.
41
Ibid.
42
Laurance, Edward J., Hendrik Wagenmakers, and Herbert Wulf. "Managing the Global Problems
Created by the Conventional Arms Trade: An Assessment of the United Nations Register of
Conventional Arms." Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International
Organizations11, no. 2 (2005): pp.231-234.
43
Ibid.
25
limitation agreement which includes the two major powers immediately encounters
two serious difficulties.44 One is the radical difference in the two countries’ attitudes
toward releasing information. 45 While the United States is among the most open
societies, the Soviet Union is one of the most secretive-virtually no meaningful
information relating to military programs and spending is made public.
In this regard, this research Thesis seeks to address transparency and military
expendituure as two of the main impediments to the effectives of th global Arms Trade
Treaty. Through this intent, the research paper predoimantely aims to investigate the
the overall worth of global arms trade and how it majorly impacts the worldwide
nations. Furthermore, it aims to investigate how major arms trade impacts UAE. The
research further narrows down its objective in order to seek the ways of reduced
military spendings and enhanced global transparency within the regime that regulates
global arms trade. Last but not the least, the research plans to procure certain valid
recommendation for superior regulation of global arms trade. The study will have a
special focus on the UAE and Middle-East, where present insecurity and instability
points to the negative impacts of having an ineffective arms trade regulation treaty. A
certain theoritiacal approach will be used to identify standards implemented by
44
Wendt, Alexander (1999) Social Theory of International Power, Cambridge University Press
45
26
indvidual nations which have increased tranparency in their arms trade and improved
the tracking of how such arms are used in the long-term.
1.2 Problem Statement
By checking military side, including small arms and light weapons, from
entering the hands of mental aggressors, evildoers, and human rights manhandle, ATT
would help the Middle-East and the world at large eliminate human rights violations
involving weapons.A basic difficulty in negotiating reductions in weapons and
military forces is the lack of a sufficiently broad and meaningful unit of measure for
comparing national forces of diverse composition. For instance, it is difficult to
determine that a nation has spent more on its military budget without due
consideration to a number of factors, suc as immediate security concerns.46Measures
such as numbers of specific weapons become too numerousand lack a common
denominator; others such as “destructive power” are difficult to calculate and may not
take into account other important variables.47 There is one measure, that has long been
perceived as important; a general indicator in comparing national forces and has
repeatedly been proposed as an appropriate object of limitation for arms control and
46
Laurance, Edward J., Hendrik Wagenmakers, and Herbert Wulf. "Managing the Global Problems
Created by the Conventional Arms Trade,” p.239.
47
27
disarmament purposes- namely, military expenditures. It refers to the amount of
money a country spends in its military relative to its security interests and the
instability in the region. 48 More importantly, the tracking of the expenditure lays
specific focus on how many weapons are bought and used (or accounted for) by the
purchasing nation. For instance, UAE’s military expenditure increased twofold
between 2012 and 2015.49 The same pattern has been experienced by other nations in
the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.50
Hence as of 2017, UAE and Saudi Arabia’s defense spendings as a share of
their respective GDP happen to be the highest in the world as stated by Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute. Furthermore, this resulted in big business for
major arm procurers and manufacturers at the conducted biennial International
Defense Exhibition (IDEX) that took place in Abu Dhabi (UAE) 51 The period which
succeeded the event of increased military spending further witnessed consideration of
bigger contracts such as UAE’s intention of acquiring 60 more fighter jets. For the
purpose, talks have been conducted with Britain’s BAE systems and France’s D
assault Aviation. The year 2017, witnessed UAE announcing several military deals at
48
Brzoska, Michael. "Taxation of the global arms trade? An overview of the issues." Kyklos 57, no. 2
(2004): pp.156-157.
49
Julian Borger, "Middle East States Almost Double Small-Arms Imports", The Guardian, 2016,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/06/arab-states-almost-double-small-arms-imports-report.
50
Ibid.
51
Jørgensen, N. H. (2014). State responsibility for aiding or assisting international crimes in the context
of the Arms Trade Treaty. American Journal of International Law, 108(4), 722-749.
28
IDEX 2017 and this were the only times such contracts were awarded officially,
thereby augmented its transparency on military spending. Furthermore, during 2016,
1235 companies from major 57 countries were exhibiting in expo, which happened to
be the region’s largest exhibition and show 52

. Along with oil slump, increased
military spending Annual military expenditures are an imperfect measure of military
capabilities. The latter depends on accumulated stocks of weapons and thus on past as
well as current spending; expenditures may not accurately reflect the “military output”
value of the things purchased so much as their “economic input” value; and the ATT
would help U.S. aides and associates abroad in their endeavors to ensure human rights,
impel stable vote based structures, and help make more secure and profitable social
solicitations. In this regard, there is need to foster tranparency in how the arms are
used rather than focusing solely on military expenditure. Additionally, with standards
established with leading organizations such as the United Nations, and leading
countries such as the United States, there is need to identify ways through which
military spending can be curtailed to only cater for the security needs of a nation. As a
result, it will be possible to curb human rights violations that arise from an unregulated
arms trade.
52
Wood, B., & Abdul-Rahim, R. (2015). The birth and the heart of the arms trade treaty. SUR-Int'l J. on
Hum Rts., 22, 15.
29
1.3 Significance of the Study
The study is significant in the sense that it seeks to ascertain the negative
effects of a poorly regulated global arms trade with a special focus on UAE and the
Middle-East. Furthermore, the study aims to find out the effects of increased military
spending on UAE’s economy. The study further provides descriptive evedences about
the ways through which transparency and reduced military spendings imparts positive
repercussions on the framework of security and regulations of global arms trade.
Therefore, the study provides a descriptive view regarding the importance of
transparency and efforts of decreasing military spending for superior regulations of
GAT. 53
To begin with, regions that experience constant turmoil are vulnerable to gross human
rights violations. An unregulated global arms trade increases the chances of weapons
falling into the arms of militias or other terror groups that have no regard to the human
consequences of their actions as they seek to promote their agendas. In this regard,
there is need to ensure that weapons trade contribute towards global security and
stability rather than instability. Secondly, the Middle-East is one among reagions that
have experienced instability for a long period. It is evident that the groups causing the
53
Bolton, M., Whall, H., Pytlak, A., Guerra, H., & James, K. E. (2014). The Arms Trade Treaty from a
Global Civil Society Perspective: Introducing Global Policy's Special Section. Global Policy, 5(4), 433-
438.
30
instability are largely aided by the ineffective regulations of global arms trade since it
is the only way they can acquire the weapons they are using to further their agenda.
The instability has had detrimental social and economic effects to the region.
Secondly, with respect to the growth that UAE has experienced in the recent past, the
instability threatens to take away the gains achieved so far if not controlled. Therefore,
in the interest of promoting peace in the region and safeguarding the growth interests
of the UAE, it is important to find measuers of effectively regulating the global arms
trade so that the country’s future can be secured.
31
Figure 1: Imports of hand guns and other form of light weapons in UAE during
2012 ans 2013 54
54
Bolton, M., & James, K. E. (2014). Nascent Spirit of New York or Ghost of Arms Control Past?: The
Normative Implications of the Arms Trade Treaty for Global Policymaking. Global Policy, 5(4), 439-
452.
32
The import has likely grown and it has become 2 fold by 2017. Due to the above stated
figures, it is clear that there will be many weapon exporting countries who might
refuse to sign the trade treaty such as Canada. 55It has refused to sign the treaty for
controlling global arms trade. As of 2017, Canada has emerged as the fastest growing
exporter of weapons and ammunitions with majority of its products are being supplied
to UAE and Saudi. 56
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study
The study has a certain specialized scope in the sense that it seeks to explore
effective measures that can be used to regulate the global arms trade. This study is
reflective to the elements of security and strategy put into practice and analysing
practical elements of security and strategy.
To Begin with, there will be an analysis of the shorcomings that have made the
cutter Arms Trade Treaty ineffective. The examination will largely target how the
control of military expenditures and transparency if any, can be used to make the
treaty more effective Encouraging transparency is essential as lack of such renders
higher vulnerability for the purpose of corruption majorly in the procurement
procedures of arms. As a matter of fact, in several countries the military seems to be
55
Holtom, P. (2014). Arms Trade Treaty. SIPRI Yearbook, 445-450.
56
Whall, H., & Pytlak, A. (2014). The Role of Civil Society in the International Negotiations on the
Arms Trade Treaty. Global Policy, 5(4), 453-468.
33
the one of the most corrupt government sectors. Furthermore, procurement of arms
both international and domestic is majorly subjected to corruption in several
developed and developing countries. Furthermore, the research amplifies the necessity
of avoiding excessive, corrupt and wasteful military expenses. Therefore, the
procurement procedure needs superior degree of transparency and accountability
within the respective military budget of a particular country. Therefore, these
procedures need to adhere to government –wide oversight practices and financial
management procedures within the framework of rigorously observed or maintained
defense policy and planning. This may include essential adherence to the Public
expenditure management principles of discipline, comprehensiveness, legitimacy,
predictability, contestability, information, honesty, transparency, flexibility and
accountability respectively. Secondly, since the United States is among world leaders
with an interest of reducing the human toll emanating from a poorly regulated global
arms trade, 57as the foundationss of Arms Trade treaty was laid in New York city with
the essential support from the US government. It got imbibed by other nations
simulatenously. For addressing this sort of problem. The examination will provide
insights on measures than can be implemented in the near future to encourage
individual nations to be more forthcoming with regards to their arms trade. This study
57
Akerman, A., & Seim, A. L. (2014). The global arms trade network 1950–2007. Journal of
Comparative Economics, 42(3), 535-551.
34
will focus on the UAE and the Middle-East as the region has witnessed two fold
increase in military spending. Furthermore, the region is a good example of how
unregulated arms trade causes instability and gross violation of human rights, as
majority of the illegal weapons are smuggled across borders falling in the hands of
atrocious militant elements
The future of UAE as a global economic leader depends among others, upon
the stability and sustainability achieved in the region as per the vision of the
governemt of enhancing economy thereby , reducing unnecessary military spendings
furthermore, augmenting thr purposes of security resilience is another vital aim.. High
levels of insecurity in the region may spill over into the country and erase gains that
have been made in the recent past. As of 2018. The government is seeking ways to
control, military expenditures and promote transparency for any particular weapon
transactions. 58
The study is subject to a number of limitations based on its methodological
approach. To begin with, due to its no wide yet specialized scope, the findings
generated in the process may not be readily applicable to all countries seeking to play
their part in the effective regulation of the global arms trade. Care will be taken to
clearly point out the applicability of the methods of inducing transparency and
58
Kytömäki, E. (2014). The Defence Industry, Investors and the Arms Trade Treaty. Chatham House.
35
reducing military spendings so that stakeholders can determine best ways of adjusting
them to their needs. Secondly, the study seeks to take a grounded theory approach to
arrive at its findings. The approach involves using secondary data and research to
generate findings. Due to the lack of a primary research, the findings may lack
objectivity or may not be well applicable to the desired context (the UAE and the
Middle-East). However, care will be taken to maintain an objective view of the
findings so that they can be well applicable to the desired context.
2.0 Methodology
2.1: Introduction
The chapter focuses on several research techniques and tools which were considered
for the purpose of obtaining true, reliable and valid information and data. Considering
and adhering to this particular procedure of study has not only aided the investigator to
make appropriate choices and complete the research procedure appropriately in a
certain standardized manner but also enabled the investigator to unveil major
underlying aspects which were related to this particular research topic. This may
procure relevant additions to existing knowledge and information. This particular
research method majorly includes research procedures such as determination of
research philosophy, design approach, information collection technique and many
others. Since, this is a secondary research; the research paper need not ascertain any
36
sample population and size. In nutshell, this research is a secondary and qualitative
investigation deriving evedences about superior procedures for reducing military
expenditure and enhancing transparency.
37
2.2: Research oinion
Figure 2: Research oinion 59
The research onion was essentially developed by Saunders which illustrates the stages
which are to be covered when constructing a certain research strategy. When observed,
each layer of the model digs deep into a more detailed stage of particular research
procedure. As a matter of fact, the research onion majorly provides certain effective
59
Saunders, M. N., & Bezzina, F. (2015). Reflections on conceptions of research methodology among
management academics. European management journal, 33(5), 297-304.
38
progression adhering to which the methodology can be developed. Moreover, its
usefulness is associated with almost all forms of research methodology and can
essentially be applied in several variety of contexts.
39
2.3: Research Philosophy
Figure 3: Research philosophy 60
A researcher considers a particular research philosophy which ascertains a specific
trajectory adhering to which information is to be acquired. Since, this is primarily a
descriptive research procedure that considers qualitative analysis; the philosophy that
has been complied with is positivism. This particular research procedure has majorly
aided the researcher to shed light on all relevant aspects adhering to the constructed
objectives of this research paper.
60
40
2.4: Research Design
A research design particularly refers a certain set of methods through which relevant
and valid data related to objectives of this study are gathered and majolry collected.
This aids the researcher to acquire true data which are related to the stated research
problem and aids in gathering approriate and crucial information in a certain desirable
manner. As a matter of fact, there are essentially three particular research design
which are explanotory, descriptive and exploratory. For the purpose of this research,
descriptivce design is chosen as it is applied for descibing particular topics which have
are already worked on in exsisting literature. The design is primarily used to explain
various measures taken by the nation in order to enhance transparency and reduce
millitary spendings. Furthermore, the research intends on seeking the repurcussions of
such.
41
Figure 4: Research design 61
2.5: Research Approach
In order to comprehend about a particular research approach it is extremely important
for academic studies to provide the basic framework which is adhered to in a
standardized manner. Therefore, a particular research approach is extremely crucial for
major academic studies as such offers the research with a certain format and aids the
research to ensure that the research procedure adheres to the standardized regulations
and rules. Out of the two available approaches, this research considered deductive
approach as it has aided the researcher in forming constructive deductions based on
existing knowledge and theory.
The research procedure will be qualitative nature and it will seek the assistance of the
procedures followed in the secondary thematic analysis. The theoretical point of
argument is to investigate and examine but also analyze writings, reports and
contentions inside arms control and small arms to investigate how standards influence
the substance and political messages of affected parties. While investigating official
records gotten from associations there is a need to consider a couple of issues. Hence,
data are obtained through secondary resources. This segment provides a descriptive
61
42
overview of the entire research methodology which is to be followed for this particular
research procedure.
Archives have been examined for the purpose of achieving a comprehension of the
current association and how it works in a specific space. Notwithstanding, so as to
completely comprehend the substance and message of these reports, it is valuable to
have different wellsprings of data in order to comprehend something about the basic
reality these records endeavor to depict. For this situation, different investigations on
arms control and the ATT have been examined to get a more extensive photo of the
control administration.
Political thoughts and standards are the result of social, monetary or scholarly
procedures in a general public at one point in time. The inspiration for this decision of
technique is that this examination embraces a constructivist point of view and means
to investigate political thoughts and standards and how they render common sense
strategy in the outcomes. It is additionally helpful while looking at the birthplace of
particular political thoughts. More solid change this , this will be connected to the
development of standards inside arms control and small arms and how these advancing
standards have come to affect strategy.62
62
UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), (2007) Secretary-General’s Report on Member states’
views on an ATT, available at:
43
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/62/278(Part%20II)&Lang=E last accessed 2012-
05-22
44
2.6 Data Collection
This is a secondary research procedure, data are collected mainly form exsisting
literature in form journals, websites and books. Furthermore, the research paper
considers descriptive data analysis.
45
3.0 Literature Review
3.1: Recent trends
The Arms Trade Treaty attempts to regulate all conventional weapons, not just small
arms and light weapons.63 It is a matter of common fact that equitable and democratic
international regime or order needs peace. Therefore, it is true that nations worldwide
need to engage in “good faith negotiations” for reducing their respective military
expenditure and arms commerce64. Diplomats are always on the opinion that whole
nations often avail lip service to disarmament and along with it some progress could
be witnessed, considerable efforts are still a necessity to reduce military budget and
65
spending considerations . However, governments are always reluctant to come
forward with their respective information in detail and essential statistics of their
spending expenditures. Moreover, Media pays less attention to these significant issues
66
as if speaking about military expenditures is a taboo . Along with it the public
participation is essentially scare in the ascertainment of priorities of the budget.
Presence of powerful lobbies which may military industrial complex may weigh on
63
Collins, Alan. Contemporary security studies, p.84.
64
Bromley, Mark, Neil Cooper, and Paul Holtom. "The UN Arms Trade Treaty,” p.1034-1035
65
Stohl, Rachel, and Suzette Grillot. The international arms trade. Vol. 7. Polity, 2009, pp.63-65
66 66
Bromley, Mark, Neil Cooper, and Paul Holtom. "The UN Arms Trade Treaty,” p.1034-1035.
46
governments and parliaments and may end up imposing priorities which may have no
democratic legitimacy 67.
In order to provide the certain remedy of this particular situation, the literature review
suggests that nations need to proactively inform their respective citizens about all the
incurred military expenditures during present, past and future considerations 68 .
Furthermore, the nations need to engage their respective citizens in a constructive
debate regarding budget priorities. The current situation calls for superior practices for
combating military corruption and increased transparency . Additionally, the fear
culture that has manifested in certain nations to provide justification of more extreme
and sophisticated weapons need to be countered with regulatory procedures 69.
Moreover, it is suggested that the nations should consider reporting to Human Rights
70
Council on certain military expenditure . The reporting should not only be on
stockpiling or production of weapons and military or personnel bases abroad, but also
on any research about nuclear weapons and other major weapons of mass destruction
67
Killer Facts: The Scale Of The Global Arms Trade"
68
Nadelmann, Ethan A. (1990) “Global Prohibition Regimes: The Evolution of Norms in International
Society”, International Organization, 44(4), pp 479-526
69
York Press
70
Killer Facts: The Scale Of The Global Arms Trade"
47
71
. Furthermore, the UPR (Universal Periodic Review) procedure is an appropriate
forum to explore and consider any discussion regarding the shift away from observed
approach (military approach). Such approach is prevalent in several nations towards
the efficient promotion of political, civil, social, economic and cultural rights . The
nations must consider reporting to the UPR regarding the proportion of annual national
budget devoted for military related expenditures which may include any form of slush
funds and essentially contrast it against any proportion of budget devoted for other
regimes such as education, justice and even health care 72. One of the constructed
objectives of this research is seek essential repercussions of reduced military spending.
However, the researcher has provided one such in this literature review. It is a known
fact that disarmament would aid the essential free resources which are necessary for
the certain sustainable development. Furthermore, financial resources which are
majorly released through the scope of disarmament and military downscaling can be
used for retraining personnel or promoting development of several peaceful industrial
edifices both with beyond or within domestic boundaries 73.
71
72
Stohl, Rachel, and Suzette Grillot. The international arms trade. Vol. 7. Polity, 2009, pp.63-65.
73
Bromley, Mark, Neil Cooper, and Paul Holtom. "The UN Arms Trade Treaty,” p.1034-1035
48
Conventional weapons include revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and
carbines, assault rifles, sub-machine guns and light machine guns.74On the higher side,
they also include heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade
launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable
launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems; portable launchers of anti-aircraft
missile systems (MANPADS); and mortars of calibres of less than 100 mm. 75 The
above mentioned weapons are the majority used in fighting wars around the globe.
Figure 5: UAE military expenditure 76
74
Small Arms Survey (2003) Development Denied, Oxford University Press
75
Small Arms Survey (2002) Counting the Human Costs, Oxford University Press
76
Perlo-Freeman, S., Wezemen, P., & Wezeman, S. (2016). Trends in world military expenditure, 2015.
SIPRI.
49
As a matter of fact, from the above exhibited figure it is clear that transparency
ragrding military expenditure is not particularly favoured in UAE. Though the military
expenditures of this country are primarily unknown, the military spending have
become two fold in UAE since 2015. As of 2017, the armed forces of this country are
arguably the most capable and trained among other GCC nations 77. Several works
have stated that during recent years, the UAE has exhibited increasing willingness to
consider operations by sending a particular F-16 detachment to the country of
Afghanistan . Furthermore, it has participated in air campaigns in countries like Libya

78
. Further, it increased military expenditure can be evidenced from the fact that it has
considered participating in counter ISIS air campaign and the recently Saudi laid
effort in order to defeat the Houthi rebels in the country of Yemen 79. With respect to
the circumstance in Yemen, the country has majorly committed ground and air forces
however; it refrained exclusively from the presidential guard and thereby, has incurred
significant causalities. From the reflection of these stated activities, the UAE and
USA majorly considered signing a new agreement during 2017 in order to deepen
77
Stohl, Rachel, and Suzette Grillot. The international arms trade. Vol. 7. Polity
78
Killer Facts: The Scale Of The Global Arms Trade
79
50
their respective military to military co-operation. The increase in expenditure can also
be stated from the fact that UAE’s association with the Yemen is also offering several
combat lessons. Furthermore, it has considered deploying several littoral operations
after a recently witnessed attack from coastal defence missiles which had hit an
Emirati vessel during the late part of 2016. A request for an additional Patriot air-
defense missile during May 2017 is an essential indicator of its increased military
spending. Furthermore, they have reportedly constructing several staging posts in
Somaliland, Eritrea in order to support the operations in Yemen. This addresses the
country’s essential approach to apply force and these are major signs of military risk’s
acceptance.
In fact, they are weapons that have been found in possession with militias and terror
group who cause havoc and human suffering as they try to advance their agendas.80
Therefore, the regulation of conventional arms will go a long way towards disarming
militia and terror groups, thereby, contriburing to global stability.
Historically, there has been a gradual upward trend in worldwide military expenditures
since the end of World War II 81. During the 10-year period, 1971-1980, developed
countries as a whole exceeded the developing countries in the magnitude of their
80
81
51
military expenditures. 82 Developing countries’ average annual rate of growth of
military expenditures was more than twice as great as that of developed countries. This
is as a result of pressure from the developing world to give national securit a priority.83
Total 1980 world military spending in 1979 was $595 billion, a 27 percent increase
over the 1971 figure of $467 billion. In the present, things are very different as the
global military spending now stands at $1.69 trillion.84 The figure represents 2% of the
global GDP.
The MiddleEast together with the gulf region has seen the greatest increase in
military expenditure in the recent past. Qatar’s imports of major conventional weapons
increased by 245% in the last five years while that of Saudi Arabia increased by 212%.
Kuwait imported 175% more weapons in the last five years while UAE military
expenditure increased by 150%.85 From the figures, it is evident that a region that has
experienced significant turmoil in the last decade also leads in terms of military
expenditure.
3.1.1 Major Exporters and Importersof Conventional Weapons
With the commencement of process for regulating global arms trade, the
likelihood of securing a uniform system to screen and control the universal arms
82
Stohl, Rachel, and Suzette Grillot. The international arms trade. Vol. 7. Polity, 2009, pp.63-65.
83
Ibid.
84
85
Ibid.
52
exchange is essential. While the United States was ahead of the Soviet Union in the
arms race during the first half of the decade, growth of Soviet arms exports exceeded
that of the United States and Moscow eclipsedWashington in total value of arms
exports in 1978.86 However, in the present, both the United States and Russia rank
among the top global arms traders. 87 For instance, in 2017, the United States
announced that it will sell arms worth $110 billion to Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, UAE
continues to develop and construct its certain industrial base in order to maintain and
88
essentially support its military equipments. Furthermore, the country remains
predominately reliant on external providers for essential weapon machines and
systems. Therefore, it provides a primary evidence of US’s transparency of letting the
world know about the value of weapon export to Saudi Arabia. 89It demonstrates that
the country has considered increase in the respective milliraty spending and literature
review intends to further shed light on the mitigating procedures. Furthermore, it is
reveaed that UAE refrains from engaging people in a debate about budget prirorities.
This is another evidence of their lack of transparency regarding weapon purchase.
86
87
88
Pan, C. I., Chang, T., & Wolde-Rufael, Y. (2015). Military spending and economic growth in the
Middle East countries: Bootstrap panel causality test. Defence and Peace Economics, 26(4), 443-456.
89
Pan, C. I., Chang, T., & Wolde-Rufael, Y. (2015). Military spending and economic growth in the
Middle East countries: Bootstrap panel causality test. Defence and Peace Economics, 26(4), 443-456.
53
Durng the last half of 1970’s, The largest arms importers were Iran, Iraq, Syria,
90
Libya, and Israel respectively. Of the ten major importing countries in 1980, the
Soviet Union was the primary supplying state for half of them. During 1980 Syria
imported the world’s largest dollar amount of arms, over $2.17 billion; Libya, the
1979 leader, was second with arms imports exceeding $1.90 billion. Each of the four
largest Western exporters, the United States, France, West Germany, and the United
Kingdom, provided economic assistance at a value greater than the value of arms
exported during the period, 1976-1980. The former Soviet Union, on the other hand,
exported arms at a value in excess of four times the value of its economic
assistance. 91 Therefore, it is evedent that a doller or sum spent beound the defined
threshold on increasing military budget puts the economy uner great constratints.
Furthermore, the increasing urge for weapons had influenced many countries to
consider to opt out of the treaty as they happen to be the major exporters.
At present, private companies and nations rank as the leading exporters and
importers of weapons. As of 2017, International weapon business commerce has been
valued more than 70 billion Dollers per year. 92 The staistics show that major sale
90
91
York Press
92
54
volumens have been achieved in the last even when there have been no major wars
being fought by nations. Currently, there are five major exporters of arms who
command a 70% market share of the global arms trade. They are Russia, China,
France, the United States, and the United Kingdon. 93 The five countries are also
permanent members to the UN Security Council, a body that is tasked with promoting
peace and general cohesion in the world. Additionally, in the last five years, the
United States and Russia have commanded 50% market share of the global arms trade.
The figures show that some of the most developed and powerful nations in the world
are to blame for the irresponsible sell of arms which end up in armed conflict zones.94
Therefore, these are countries that may refrain from signing trade treaties as they are
major exporters of weapons.
Conventional weapons or small arms have seen the greatest increase. For
instance, at present, the conventional weapons market is said to have a yearly value of
$8.5 billion.95 Up to 8 million small arms and 15 billion rounds of ammunition are
manufactured each year. The increase has also contributed to human rights violations
in major conflict zones due to the affordability of the weapons and their easy access.
93
Ibid.
94
Ibid.
95
55
The Middle-East and the Gulf Region have experienced their fair share of
turmoil courtesy of the unregulated global arms trade. According to Amnesty
International, the region is responsible for a quarter of the imports involving small
arms. 96 The United States, UK, and France are the major exporters to the region.
Between the years 2011 and 2016, imports to the region have increased by upto a
factor of 100%. The increased importantion come in light of the turmoil currently
being experienced in Yemen and Syria. While it may be argued that the incresed
expenditure is to protect the nations from the instability present in the region, it is also
clear that the conflict in the region has been sustained by the availability of weapons.
Since the militia or terror groups fighting may not make the purchase on their own, the
arms bough by countries such as Saudi Arabia may find their way it the wrong hands
if not well tracked and regulated.
3. 2 Effective Arms Trade Treaty
An effective Arms Trade Treaty is required to properly address the current
challenge of regulating the Global Arms Trade. Researchers have endeavoured to
study why the current treaty falls short of becoming effective. Two main points have
been raised. To begin with, it has been pointed out that a lack of tranparency
96
Ibid.
56
significantly hampers the effectiveness of the treaty. 97 CITEThe goal of ATT is to
promote a responsible global arms trade by ensuring that weapons do not end up being
used to facilitate crimes against humanity such as genocide and war crimes. The goal
is achieved by constantly carrying out assessment to determine the overiding risk of
sellingf arms, ammunitions, or related items to interested parties.98 However, for such
an assessment to be successfull, there has to be transparency in how nations and
private entities report the sales they have made in the global arms market. The ATT
lacks the provision to foster such an important aspect since it threatens to interfere
with the sovereignity of nations. Therefore, players in the market are required to show
some individual level of responsibility and initiative in reporting their sale of arms.
Therefore, unless transparency is fostered, it will be difficult for the treaty to be
effective since proper assessment of the activities carried out by players in the market
will not be possible.
Secondly, the effectiveness if the ATT has been affected by lack of clear guidelines on
military expenditure that should be allowed for any country. 99 As previously
mentioned, most of the safeguards that could have been introduced into the treaty to
avoid such shortcomings run the risk of compromising the sovereignity of nations. For
97
Garcia, Denise. "Global Norms on Arms,” p.428.
98
Collins, Alan. Contemporary security studies, p. 91-94.
99
Dunne, John Paul. "Military spending, growth, development and conflict." Defence and Peace
Economics 23, no. 6 (2012): pp.552-553.
57
instance, military spending is solely a function of the national government. Nations are
required to come up with their own criteria of budgeting for their defense and security.
However, previous studies have shown that an increase in military expenditure among
nations near a conflict zone serves to escalate the conflict even further. For intance, the
current problem in the Middle-East and gulf region has escalated after many of the
sorrounding nations increased their defense expenditure and acquired more
weapons.100 For instance, Saudi Arabia more than trippleditsits imports of small arms
between 2012 and 2013. The figure below states the pattern of Saudi’s military
expenditure as compared to last 5 years.
100
Borger, Julian. "Middle East States Almost Double Small-Arms Imports"
58
Figure 5: Saudi’s military expenditure 101
The United Arab Emirates doubled in its imports for conventional weapons during the
same period102. More strikingly so, a country like Qatar, which has not experienced
any significant outside threat or conflict increased its purchase of small arms by more
101
Hatemi-J, A., Chang, T., Chen, W. Y., Lin, F. L., & Gupta, R. (2015). Asymmetric Granger
Causality between Military Expenditures and Economic Growth in Top Six Defense Suppliers (No.
201565).
102
Borger, Julian. "Middle East States Almost Double Small-Arms Imports"
59
than 200% during the same period. 103 From the figures, it can be argued that their
irresponsible use may be contributing to the instability in the region. Therefore
developing strategies of regulating military expenditures without violating the
sovereignity of nations may contribute towards the effectiveness of the global Arms
Trade Treaty.
One of the major objectives of this research was to seek ways for accounting military
expenditures and increased transparency. By proactively informing a nation’s citizens
about certain considered military spending during past, present and future events.
Moreover, the objective can further be sufficed by engaging citizens in a certain
debate associated with a nation’s major budget priorities. It not only renders
transparency but also provides a constructive way for accounting military budgets.
The current situation of unregulated arms trade demands procedures for combating
military corruption and certain increased transparency by informing the public. The
current regime of fear culture again has compelled countries to develop weapons of
mass destruction without any form of regulatory procedures.
UAE needs to consider reporting to the Human Right Council regarding certain
military expenditure. The report should inform the council about below exhibited
details:
103
Ibid.
60
 Production of weapons and establishment of several personnel or military
bases abroad
 Furthermore, it should report on any nuclear researches or development of
weapons of mass destruction which had been conducted off late
A country may adopt UPR review procedure in order to discuss the shift away from
military approach. It is witnessed in several countries where they majorly emphasize
on social, civil, political, cultural and economic rights. A particular nation may
consider constructive reporting the percentage of national budget employed for
military and associated expenditures.
Disarmament on reducing military expenditure may assist free resources for the
purpose of sustainable development. Moreover, the sum saved from decreased military
spending can be used in other industrial regimes.
61
3.3 The UAE, National Security Logic of the possibility of an Arms Trade Treaty
Work on the ATT started in 2006 and the United States has taken an interest in
the process since 2009. Adversaries of the United States advantage from two outcomes
of an ineffectively directed arms exchange: the propagation of tumult in the host state
where they look for shelter, and the expanded accessibility of military material with
which they can arm themselves.104The United Arab Emirates benefits from the treaty
since it shapes in foreign policy. Additionally, the treaty is key to addressing
instability in the region which threatens to erode the economic gains that have been
made in the recent past.
During 2013, UAE contemplated on signing the United Nations Arms Trade
treaty, thereby acquiring the status of 79th country to sign such treaty so far. 105
Furthermore, With respect to the circumstance in Yemen, the UAE again has majorly
committed ground and air forces however; it refrained exclusively from the
presidential guard and thereby, has incurred significant causalities. UAE offer several
combat lessons to the troops of Yemen. UAE has been constructing several staging
posts in Somaliland, Eritrea in order to support the operations in Yemen 106.
104
Morgan, Patrick (2007) “Security in International Politics - Traditional approaches” in: Collins, Alan
(ed) Contemporary Security Studies, pp. 91-108, Oxford University Press
105
Sandler, T., & George, J. (2016). Military expenditure trends for 1960–2014 and what they reveal.
Global Policy, 7(2), 174-184.
106
Comparative Economics 42, no. 3 (2014): pp.535-551.
62
The ATT would help state specialists exploring comparative cases in a
few ways. In light of Italian court records, a Romanian front organization set up by the
Bon syndicate and an asserted Iranian knowledge agent encouraged no less than one
shipment of expert rifleman scopes. The exchanges were likewise at first steered
through Dubai keeping in mind the end goal to disperse doubts. An ATT that requires
states-gatherings to permit or generally manage the exercises of dealers and shippers
could help in the counteractive action of comparative operations. Therefore, putting a
certain constraint on the shipment of weapons may put the account weapons transfer
and illict weapons struggle. Through initiating the necessity of permit, the respective
authiories can account for the exported or imported weapons thereby, imparting a
certain survillience on arms transfer occurring within a nation. From the viewpoint of
recent plight, it can be stated as a smart move.
While a few states do as of now require licenses for the travel of arms shipments
(such as the ones imported by Sweden and several African nations since 2013)
107
through their domain, others just require confirmation of fare and import
documentation or subtle elements of the arranged physical excursion of the arms.108 A
107
Hansen, S. T. (2016). Taking ambiguity seriously: Explaining the indeterminacy of the European
Union conventional arms export control regime. European Journal of International Relations, 22(1),
192-216.
108
63
worldwide ATT could help institutionalize these necessities with the goal that third-
nations must make a different sovereign judgment on the shrewdness of giving an
arms shipment section through their region, in light of the same foreordained criteria
that exporters must apply.109
Arms representatives are essentially in charge of the spread of unlawful arms to the
world’s combat areas. As the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in
a July 2011 proclamation: Furthermore, during November 2017, the ICRS published
certain articles that clearly define the present Autonomous Weapon system (majorly
conventional arms) and provides certain perspectives on the “Lethal Autonomous
Weapon Systems”.110
“On the off chance that the exercises of intermediaries are not controlled, at that point,
the Arms Trade Treaty will be effortlessly undermined by the exercises of deceitful
merchants working outside of any administrative structure or from the domain of part
states with practically zero controls set up.”111
109
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110
Hansen, S. T. (2016). Taking ambiguity seriously: Explaining the indeterminacy of the European
Union conventional arms export control regime. European Journal of International Relations, 22(1),
192-216.
111
Global Issues, (2012) available at: http://www.globalissues.org/
64
This states regulation should be imparted that necessarily aims to reduce the maiming
and killing of the people globally. Hence, arms control at this point of time has
become vital.
3.4Arms Trade Treaty Myths and Realities
Figure 6: A harsh reality 112
112
Kotera, G., & Okada, K. (2017). How does democratization affect the composition of government
expenditure?. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 137, 145-159.
65
The above exhibited image provides a brief insight about harsh reality about the ATT
where loopholes and lax laws have availed free flow of weapons around th globe 113.
In the United States, the estimation of the ATT has been dominated by deluding
campaigning endeavors with respect to the National Rifle Association 114to distort the
settlement’s potential impact on local weapon proprietorship. Howeve, things took a
different turn in 2012 when Obama made a promise to ratify the ATT. Since the
United States stands out, among key member countries who benefit from the global
rms trade, they also have a huge part to play in ensuring that the trade does not hurt
human rights interests. USA majorly benefits from such at it have several of its
soldiers posted in countries who are operating worldwide. Therefore, it aims to protect
the soldiers and diplomats operating worldwide 115 . USA is country that majorly
emphasizes on friends and allies and thereby, it seeks to protect them from any arms
related unforeseen circumstances. There are many ungoverned areas which oppose
USA (one such being the areas governed by ISLI), hence, it may cease flow of arms in
113
Kotera, G., & Okada, K. (2017). How does democratization affect the composition of government
expenditure?. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 137, 145-159.
114 114
115
Garcia, Denise. "Global Norms on Arms” p.425
66
those areas 116 . It has further promoted development of defence strategies and
economic development. The worries stem from the fact that te United States has been
built on a foundation of freedom for bearing arms. Therefore, any treaty or law that
tends to overregulate the practice is considered against the people’s
interest. 117 Furthemore, leaders in the past have worked towards safeguarding the
sovereignity of the nation and prioritizing the interests of the citizens they serve above
everything else.
The Moran letter guarantees that specific states have called for inward arms
exchanges to be directed keeping in mind the end goal to adequately battle trafficking.
While a few states may look for such arrangements, such measures are verifiable
outside the extent of any conceivable bargain content.
The 2009 UN General Assembly determination setting up the Arms Trade
Treaty transaction process unequivocally recognizes the selective right of states “to
control inside exchanges of arms and national proprietorship, including through
nationally sacred assurances.”Notwithstanding the different concerns communicated
by Sen. Moran and his associates in regards to the apparently established ramifications
116
.
117
Comparative Economics 42, no. 3 (2014): pp.535-551.
67
of this selection of words, it is bounteously evident that most by far of arranging
parties perceive the “restrictive ideal” of states to direct inward arms exchanges.
The ATT will not direct residential offers of guns 118. Its attention is rather under the
control of the international trade in ordinary weapons so as to keep them out of the
hands of human rights abusers, composed criminal endeavours, and fear based
oppressors. While the sovereignity of nations have stood in the way of establishing
effective measures to meet the goals of the ATT, leading nations such as the United
States have taken it upon themselves to abide by internal standards that regulate the
sale of arms to other nations or third parties.119While such measures have not been
entirely successfull as expected, they demonstrate the initiative that is required of
other key players to improve the effectiveness of the treaty. Therefore, by studying the
standards put in place by the United States towards holding themselves responsible for
the activities of the global arms trade, the UAE can borrow a leaf and learn how to
compose effective foreign policy strategies in the future. Additionally, the country can
contribute towards peace and stability in the region, thereby, safeguarding its future.
118
Middle East Research Institute. (2015). Iran (Routledge Revival): MERI Report. Routledge.
119
Akerman, Anders, and Anna Larsson Seim. "The global arms trade network 1950–2007," p.539-543.
68
3.5 Raising Global Standards to Meet U.S. Standards for Arms Trade
USA has established internal standards for ensuring that arms are not sold into
regions where they may cause havoc and lead to the loss of human lives.120By making
everything fair, an ATT would give a system to conferring different states associated
with the universal weapons market to hold to similar necessities.121
The privilege to deny or affirm any fare for weapons transfer, import, or exchange
would eventually stay with the sovereign states-parties.122 This is because the treaty
does not have any specific provisions that compels nations to be respnsible in their
practice.. Many arrangements of the settlement are still to be fleshed out, this
fundamental guideline will not be adjusted. The administrator’s working paper that has
risen up out of the preliminary board of trustees gatherings is not a draft bargain but
instead a comprehensive amalgamation of states’ perspectives and sentiments that
must now be calibrated and formalized over the span of the following year, earlier and
amid the arrangement meeting in 2012.123
120
Schoultz, L. (2014). National Security and United States Policy toward Latin America. Princeton
University Press, pp.21-25.
121
Beckman, Ludvig (2005) Grundbokiidéanalys, detkritiskastudietavpolitiskatexterochidéer,
Santérusförlag, Stockholm
122
Holtom, Paul. "Prohibiting Arms Transfers to Non-State Actors and the Arms Trade Treaty," p.12.
123
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3.6 Serious Dialog and Demagoguery
The flippant global arms exchanges to tyrants and psychological militants and to
struggle zones where regular folks are actually gotten in the cross-fire. The ATT is
not, as Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) as of late confused it, “... a bundle of civil servants
at the United Nations managing our freedoms and flexibilities.”124 The Arms Trade
Treaty is a capable way to deal with an extreme worldwide issue that is being driven
by essential and genuine U.S. partners, including the United Kingdom, a noteworthy
arms exporter, which has been a solid defender of the ATT from the earliest starting
point. The former ambassador John Duncansaid in February 2007 staed in an UN
convention that “We do not see the settlement finishing the arms exchange, yet an
arrangement ought to be tied in with ensuring the arms exchange is directed capably
and to ensure it is done with due respect to the effect that it has.”In 2017, the UK still
remined a global leader in exporting arms to the Middle-East and other parts of the
world we need evidence and proof 125. However, it has maintained a similar stance as
the United States by ensuring that the weapons trade does not contribute towards
destablising regions or violating human rights. During 2017, President Trump signed a
124
UN Resolution 64/48 (2010) The Arms Trade Treaty, United Nations General Assembly, available
at: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N09/464/71/PDF/N0946471.pdf?OpenElement
125
Thomas Mason, "U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Gives Away Rights Of Americans", The Washington
Times, 2016, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/15/un-arms-trade-treaty-gives-away-
rights-of-american/.
70
deal of US 350 billion dollar with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This arms deal
happened to be the largest in American History 126. The transaction included combat
ships, tanks, missile defense system along with radar communication and technology
of cyber security.
As former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in October 2009, “The
United States is focused on effectively seeking after a solid and vigorous settlement
that contains the most astounding conceivable, lawfully restricting measures for the
universal exchange of customary weapons.” However, things have taken a different
turn with the current administration headed by Donald Trump, where the Second
Ammendement is given a priority127 . The administration is of the opinion that the
Arms Trade Treaty gives away the right of Americans to bear firearms. 128 This is
because civilian firearms are also covered by the treaty. 129Despite the changes and
perceivable lack of compliance to the treaty, the country still maintains high standards
in its foreign gun policies where weapons are sold responsibly to interested parties.
126
Terman, R., & Voeten, E. (2018). The relational politics of shame: Evidence from the universal
periodic review. The Review of International Organizations, 13(1), 1-23.
127
127
Ibid.
128
Thomas Mason, "U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Gives Away Rights Of Americans", The Washington
Times, 2016, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/15/un-arms-trade-treaty-gives-away-
rights-of-american/.
129
Ibid.
71
3.7 Constructivism in International Security and Strategy
Constructivism in international security and strategy theories is for the most part
concerned with standards and how they impact the activities of individuals or nations.
It is argued that some of the barriers that prevent the effective applications of laws and
legislations are social constrcutions rather than impediments that cannot be
overcomed.130 The significance of constructivism has developed essentially because of
the failure of overwhelming speculations inside global relations (neorealism,
neoliberalism) to completely perceive the effects of ideational marvels and the impact
of standards on political results.131
As said above, constructivism is moretheoritizing wondering about the rise of
standards and ideational factors in universal relations and global administration than
the more conventional military and power-focused security talk. 132 It contends that
security infers significantly more than national safeguard and assurance from outside
military dangers. 133 For constructivists the worldwide structure is a socially and
generally unexpected wonder, i.e. something that has been built and would not
130
Adler, E. (2013). Constructivism in international relations: sources, contributions, and
debates. Handbook of international relations, 2, pp.112-144.
131
Ibid.
132
133
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generally exist, social constructivism is ontologically about the social development of
reality and epistemologically about the social development of importance, including
learning. 134
Constructivists see the pragmatist homogenous significance of national
interests and security as misrepresentative as it is difficult to expect that the
wellsprings of dangers and states’ interests in world governmental issues are all
inclusive. A constructivist would rather contend that they rely upon the social,
chronicled and political setting. Since they guarantee that conduct, interests, and
contacts are socially built they are subsequently subject to change. In this manner,
constructivists contend that political choices made by states depend on personality and
standards, i.e. their impression of what constitutes true blue conduct by performing
artists of specific characters.
Pragmatistson the other hand, would contend that because of certain conduct or
occasions something can be viewed as a goal risk. Constructivists then again see
personalities and practices as the key assurance of dangers and no target importance to
lead exist. Security in this sense cannot be viewed as an outside reality yet rather as
persistently being developed and remade. The US viewed the former USSR as a risk to
American esteems and personality because of its socialist beliefs, consequently the US
134
73
considered itself to be hostile to comrade and a universal and national gatekeeper of
American esteems which remained contrary to socialism and this was generally
reflected in their outside arrangements. Nonetheless, this was not a general and target
point of view. Western Europe was less influenced by the belief system of the former
Soviet Union, and more with Russian strength on the European mainland and
considered their undertakings in the Third World from a point of view of their pilgrim
past or their business advantages. 135 The point with this case is to show how
constructivism can offer a clarification of how thoughts and standards can influence
the choices made by states or individuals and their position in specific level headed
discussions or world issues.
The generally concurred meaning of standards is “as a standard of suitable
conduct for performers with a given character”. At the end of the day, standards can be
viewed as reflecting esteems and characters which thusly give expresses the
authenticity and viability to seek after their interests and inclinations. The significance
of standard working in universal legislative issues has for some time been conspicuous
inside the constructivist strand of worldwide relations. Scientists have recognized
three periods of standard building; the development of a standard, the time when the
standard begins affecting the conduct of performers lastly the stage where standards
135
74
end up plainly organized. It is not clear however that a standard will go through every
one of these stages. A few issues do not prevail with regards to sufficiently raising
mindfulness or are met with solid resistance from capable performers.
Thoughts and standards are advanced by standard business visionaries. These
are on-screen characters especially dedicated to particular thoughts or qualities,
spurred by social change and the possibility to impact the conduct or conclusion of
others. All around, standard business people are normally engaged with social
developments, non-legislative associations, global associations or simply devoted
people. A few illustrations are standards identified with states’ lack of bias and
restriction administrations concerning atomic weapons. Besides, in worldwide
legislative issues states are as yet the most unmistakable performing artists in issues
including security and as diverts of trade in data and transaction.136
Basic qualities among standard business people are that they look for political
help and prepare mainstream sentiment; they encourage the development of
symphonious developments in different areas and work towards bringing issues to
light and pulling in transnational consideration towards their motivation. A basic
building-alliance of standard building comprises of the capacity of standard business
people to impact arrangement results.
136
75
There are distinctive measurements of energy, which can be utilized as
apparatuses for support by standard business people. Regularly without customary
power, different methods must be executed which can to a great extent be portrayed as
measures of delicate power. Delicate powercan incorporate learning assets, specialized
aptitude, social abilities and good expert. Specialist builds up the idea facilitate by
keeping up that “Enchantment is constantly more viable than compulsion, and many
esteems like majority rules system, human rights, and individual open doors are
profoundly enticing”.
This takes us back to the idea of personality, another critical piece of standard
building. The contention here is that the apparent character of a state impacts its
conduct and inclinations. This character depends on states’ convictions of their social
class in the worldwide group and through systems of socialization nations can be
influenced to stick to standards which in this way can prompt the dissemination of a
standard in a global field. The explanations behind this can be depicted as because of
parts of genuine conduct, similarity and regard. At the end of the day, nations can be
viewed as needing to have a place with a specific standardizing group of countries.137
137
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In customary securityexamines the fundamental referent protest is the state.
The state is the focal figure in worldwide issues and national security is the most vital
target. In this view, the world is exemplified by an anarchic state framework where
states contend to augment picks up and control.
The term human securityis a moderately new idea inside the controls of
security studies and worldwide relations yet it comes from considerably more
established philosophical and political methodologies, for example, progressivism
which in theory is worried about the interests of people. There are clashing
perspectives with regards to the birthplace of the idea. Some say it left the 1994 UNDP
Human Development Report and its primary modeler, the scholastic and government
official MahbubulHaq. Others contend that the idea of human security came
significantly before however the planning to connect with a more extensive open was
greatly improved in 1994 encouraged before the finish of the Cold War. 138
Unavoidably as of late and fuelled by an undeniably globalized world, it has turned
out to be certain that there is a need to widen the security motivation. There are some
more “genuine” security dangers exuding from neediness, disparity, natural concerns,
national government disappointment and debasement than from outside military
dangers. The slant to move far from a static state-driven perspective of security has
138
77
been reflected in the worldwide acknowledgment of the incorporation of human
security worries inside the plan setting and approach making in the UN and represents
the effects of qualities and standards in global relations. As per the analyst, human
security tries to fill the hole where conventional security originations are insufficient
to deliver the dangers to singular security or human prosperity. As such, human
security can be viewed as a correlative strand to state-driven security hypotheses and
not really a restricting perspective. Numerous researchers in help of a more human-
focused security talk would concur that the state is as yet an imperative on-screen
character, in spite of the fact that its part ought to be restricted to the course through
which universal exercises and arrangements stream. The way toward arranging human
security administrations is basically an activity in making and advancing new global
standards.139 In this manner, the human security talk is exceptionally pertinent while
investigating the development of standards and their results on the small arms issue
and in addition the prospects for a global Arms Trade Treaty.
139
78
4.0Analysis
The research primarily examines the rise of standards inside small arms. Furthermore,
the research presents a view of the repercussions that these standards impart on overall
security. Moreover, the research sheds light on decreased military spendings and
increased transparency as major ways of proper regulation of WAT. This is trailed by
a short investigation of human security administrations, all the more accurately a near
investigation of the landmine boycott. Hence, the most eminent differentiating
standards inside small arms will be featured and dissected. With this
currentexamination of the hypothetical foundation, it is very protected to guarantee
that standard building is fundamental for the formation of different establishments
inside compassionate arms control. Since constructivism grasps a dream of progress it
is an exceptionally significant and commonsense system to examine the advancement
of the human security talk as another ideational strand inside security thinks about.
The human security talk helped standard working inside arms control by stressing the
requirement for demilitarization and arms control because of their troubling results on
human security around the world. Helpful arms control and the human security talk
grew at the same time and offer the sense of duty regarding place their vital weight on
the prosperity and assurance of the individual person. Seeing as standard working with
respect to small arms is a genuinely new improvement it can be talked about whether
there really exist any organized standards in connection to small arms. Since the finish
79
of World War II, the development of multilateralism, popularity based esteems and the
need to control the utilization of power in order to dodge a reiteration of the world
wars were all contributing components to the introduction of the arms control
administration.140
In the 1990s different records of the issues related with the expansion of small
arms were featured by scientists, activists and NGOs. These issues were enunciated as
relating to the huge global accessibility of these arms, the issue of arms handling and
the exchanges to non-state performing artists. Some of these issues have accumulated
much universal help and have advanced into globally acknowledged regularizing
conduct, especially with respect to the confinement of arms expediting and the
demolition of surplus weapons. One world occasion that fortified the rise of these
standards was the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 which was said to have been activated
by the landing of illegal arms conveyances because of arms expediting.141
By the by, the level headed discussion on small arms is mind boggling. Small
arms include different honest to goodness purposes inside the police constrain, the
military, and the security division and for chasing. As an outcome any treaty that tries
to control its spread and utilize will confront substantially more troublesome than a
140
141
80
full forbiddance administration, (for example, the landmine boycott). 142 Distinctive
performing artists have diverse relations and mentalities towards small arms which
makes a testing atmosphere for arrangement.
Moreover, the post Cold War period saw a move in the state-loped point of
view of security which was reflected in the different gatherings and multilateral
concessions to helpful undertakings that turned into the product of that decade. The
incorporation of NGOs in some of these rounds of arrangement additionally uncovered
the changing universal political atmosphere and in spite of the fact that these have no
customary power they exemplify distinctive measurements of delicate power which
they apply by utilizing information assets, qualities and good specialist to advance
their motivation. In a great part of the official documentation getting from the United
Nations on small arms and the Arms Trade Treaty, there is an installed human security
viewpoint which again mirrors the settled thought of a more helpful perspective of
security and dangers. A few of the reports of the United Nations Preparatory
Committee on the Arms Trade Treaty represent this point. In a few spots it expresses
its goal to “add to global and provincial peace, security and soundness by forestalling
universal exchanges of traditional arms that add to or encourage: human enduring,
genuine infringement of worldwide human rights law and universal helpful law,
142
81
infringement of United Nations Security Council endorses and arms embargoes and
other worldwide commitments, furnished clash, the removal of individuals,
transnational sorted out wrongdoing, and psychological oppressor acts, and along
these lines undermine peace, compromise, wellbeing, security, strength and practical
social and financial advancement”. These reports additionally console their regard for
worldwide helpful law and human rights law. These are on the whole articulations
which reverberate the destinations of the human security talk and from multiple points
of view speak to the across the board affect this re-orientated security viewpoint has
had on the dialect of the universal group and the foundation of new worldwide
standards.
Legality of ATT
The ATT is binds the ratied countries together. These countries adhere to the polices
stated for Armed Unmanned Weapons and aerial vehicles, Riot control agents and
Tasers. Furthermore, it has stated legislations regarding Arms brokering and portable
air defense system which are to be abided by all the ratified countries.
National position of UAE
UAE became the 79th member of this treaty during 2013. The treaty was primarily
singed by UAE’s representative to USA which happened to be Ahmad Abdul Rahman
82
Al Jarman143. The country majorly considered such as an important treaty after the
essential signing of the Ambasador. It happened to be the first international
mechanism for the relevant organisation of international trade in the regime of
conventional arms without adhering to the prejudices to the respective sovereign rights
of the nations144.
Major international allies for and those against
UAE has many allies in form of Russia, India USA, South Korea and many others.
However, Saudi and Egypt have essentially cut their diplomatic relationship. 145
Elements of military balance
The new agreement essentially protects the right of access to all necessary forms of
conventional weapons for purposes such as protection of both regional and national
security as stated in the principles of the UN’s Charter. 146
143
Collins, Alan. Contemporary security studies, p.33
144
Morgan, Patrick (2007) “Security in International Politics - Traditional approaches” in: Collins, Alan
(ed) Contemporary Security Studies, pp. 91-108, Oxford University Press
145
WELSH’S, H. I. I. (2014). LITERARY TOPOI OF ORGANISED HALLUCINATIONS IN IRVINE
WELSH’S TRAINSPOTTING ANASTASIA NICÉPHORE. Diasporic Identities and Empire: Cultural
Contentions and Literary Landscapes, 99.
146
King, R. J. (2018). Finding Marco Polo’s Locach. Terrae Incognitae, 1-18.
83
5.0 Lessons Learned: The ATT in 2018
In the open deliberation on the ATT, the United States frequently alludes to its
residential laws, underlining that the American constitution ensures its natives the
privilege to keep and carry weapons, a correct they incentive to extraordinary degree.
These contentions are from multiple points of view unnecessary given that the ATT
has not embarked to incorporate tenets for intrastate exchanges or household
ownership.147 The 2018 report of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference
on the Arms Trade Treaty reaffirms states’ entitlement to self-protection and further
perceives their sovereign ideal to decide directions on local exchanges and inside
controls on non military personnel possession. 148 This may lead to increased
transparency about military expenditures with respect to the country where people are
aware of their budget prirotities. However, in US explanations routed to the UN
Program of Action and the ATT, they make re-happening references to their
household laws and their resistance to incorporate ammo and the restriction on
exchanges to non-state performing artists. They trust that endeavors ought to be gone
for checking the illegal trade in small arms and exclude limitations on the legitimate
147
148
84
trade, a view they share with other intense states, for example, a portion of the other
lasting individuals from the Security Council.
Many states perceive the need to control the lawful market too. The UK
Government, for example, contend that despite the fact that the dominant part of arms
merchants act capably, there are those traders not wasted time with whether the end-
clients are honest to goodness or not and in this way they keep up the requirement for
universally acknowledged benchmarks of control.149
Maybe the most challenged standard inside small arms is that of non-military
personnel firearm possession. A standout amongst the most driving professional
weapon bunches is the American based NRA (National Rifle Association) and seems
to have generous impact over the issue. The NRA is applicable here as a result of the
extent of its campaigning power. In a few cases, the NRA has been included with
other professional weapon bunches outside of the United States in supporting for the
rights relating to guns with some eminent accomplishments in Brazil (Grillot, 2011).
The NRA tended to the third session of the Preparatory Committee in July of 2011
where they repeated their requests that no proposition on regular citizen weapon
proprietorship must be incorporated into the ATT. 150 By 2018, the citizen weapon
149
150
85
proprietorship requires essential licences which are availed by the personnels
appointed the respective authority.
Any potential provision on confining regular citizen weapon proprietorship could
never have been acknowledged by the US government at the PoA gathering in 2001
and this position has been rehashed in explanations coordinated towards the ATT.151
This shows from various perspectives the impact these master firearm NGOs can have
on regulating change and arrangement results. Be that as it may, in 2009 the former
Obama organization voted to help the ATT and along these lines abrogating the
previous Bush government’s resistance to the treaty and accordingly portraying an
additionally encouraging viewpoint as to its application. Regardless, despite
everything they keep up their position on requests, for example, the prohibition of the
trade in ammo and regardless of whether they will confirm the treaty stays to be seen.
Through certain amendments Trump has made it easier for the US firms to sell arms
and ammunitions to certain foreign government. Furthermore, the president has
announced a certain effort to ease or lessen the export rules on US made arms
purchases for major foreign nations 152. This move essentially seeks to ease controls
151
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152
Henderson, S. (2017). The Arms Trade Treaty: Responsibility to Protect in Action?. Global
Responsibility to Protect, 9(2), 147-172.
86
exports of several military equipments such as artillery, arms and armmunitions,
fighter jets to drones.
6.0 Recommendations
ATT likewise illustrates an undeniably more extensive comprehension of the
helpful impacts of small arms and the dissemination of arms when all is said in done.
As specified some time recently, the Arms Trade Treaty, is still in its development
stage and calls for more scholastic examination. More research is required with respect
to arms facilitating and the impacts of exchanges to non-state performing artists and
the potential for these to be incorporated into an ATT. In the outcome of the
forthcoming gathering on the ATT, assist examinations on standards and thoughts
inside small arms would be valuable to concentrate to uncover any conceivable
changes in the regularizing atmosphere encompassing these issues. The ATT is a
global treaty (singed in 2013 with several ratiofied countries inlcudeing UAE) at sets
out, out of the blue, forbiddances to stop the worldwide exchange between conditions
of weapons, weapons and related things when it is known they would be utilized to
perpetrate or encourage genocide, wrongdoings against mankind, or atrocities. In
addition to the above there are several recommendations can be thought out of the
following statements.
87
1) In spite of the solid restriction towards the direction of non military personnel
weapon proprietorship, the contentions for controlling non military personnel
ownership are very persuading.153
2) The government should involve pubic in a debate which may aid them in
deciphering the budget priorities. Furthermore, the government in order to elevate
transparency may constrst military budgets with other budgets.
3) Many states, including the Russian Federation, have communicated their worries
with respect to the issues identified with non military personnel firearm possession
and the danger of preoccupation of these weapons onto the unlawful market.
4) Despite these perceptions, it creates the impression that standards worried about
confining non military personnel firearm proprietorship have not prevailing with
regards to getting to be noticeably standardized yet.
5) Governments are progressively getting to be noticeably mindful of the outcomes of
questionable arms arrangements and tend to feel more constrained to decline an
arrangement if its authenticity is addressed. This speaks to a rising standard of
openness in arms exchanges around the world.
153
88
6) As said over the local requests and weight on the economy assumes a huge part for
some nations concerning arms control. Besides, the Chinese government pulled
back from talks between the changeless individuals from the UN Security Council
on controlling the streams of weapons to the MiddleEast, because of the Gulf War,
to a limited extent because of the expanded Chinese part in rocket creation and
fares.154
7) The government may disavow confinements on arms exchanges in light of human
rights mishandle and non-multiplication and along these lines expanded their
weapons deals by the twofold. These cases all mirror the monetary thought
processes behind arms exchanges and how these regularly weigh heavier than
standards of human rights and human security. Incomprehensibly, this implies the
nonattendance of arms controls enables some to benefit from the wretchedness of
others.155
8) Consistently, an appraisal is directed to break down the ‘superseding’ chance that
potential arms fares could add to genuine infringement of worldwide human rights
and compassionate law.
154
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155
89
7.0 Conclusion
This researchThesis has endeavored to critically analyse the issue of small arms
expansion and standard working with regards to an Arms Trade Treaty by applying an
ideational examination to the case and civil argument on small arms.It has given a
record of potential difficulties and prospects of standards in the field with the reason
for investigating the ATT administration. In customary security thinks about the
primary referent question is the state. 156 The state is the focal figure in universal
undertakings and national security is the most essential goal. In this view, the world is
embodied by an anarchic state framework where states contend to amplify picks up
and control. The term human security 157is a generally new idea inside the controls of
security studies and universal relations however it comes from substantially more
established philosophical and political methodologies, for example, radicalism which
in theory is worried about the interests of people. There are clashing perspectives with
regards to the starting point of the idea. Definitely lately and fuelled by an inexorably
globalized world, it has turned out to be certain that there is a need to expand the
security plan. There are some more “genuine” security dangers exuding from
156
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157
Beebe, S. D., & Kaldor, M. H. (2010). The ultimate weapon is no weapon: Human security and the
new rules of war and peace. PublicAffairs.
90
destitution, imbalance, ecological concerns, national government disappointment and
debasement than from outside military dangers. The slant to move far from a static
state-driven perspective of security has been reflected in the worldwide
acknowledgment of the consideration of human security worries inside the plan setting
and approach making in the UN and represents the effects of qualities and standards in
global relations. Actually, human security can be viewed as a corresponding strand to
state-driven security speculations and not really a contradicting view. Numerous
researchers in help of a more human-focused security talk would concur that the state
is as yet a critical on-screen character, in spite of the fact that its part ought to be
restricted to the course through which global exercises and arrangements stream.158
The way toward arranging human security administrations is basically an activity in
making and advancing new global standards. Consequently, the human security talk is
exceptionally applicable while investigating the development of standards and their
results on the small arms issue and the prospects for a global Arms Trade Treaty.
Hence, it is evedent that impacts of increased transparency and regulated military
expenditures may lead to enhanced human security.
158
05-22
91
The announcements set forward by part states here outline their
reluctance to surrender certain standards which they accept is a piece of their national
character. Monetary power is an indication of a nation’s position in the global group
and the financial improvement of its kin and in this manner not relinquished
decisively. Additionally, military capacities symbolize the power character of a nation
and its ability to guard itself and this “personality” has offered ascend to a power
battle which in short suggests that security is gotten with control, for this situation
military power.159
Hence, in this research, the total worth of global arms trade has been ascertained.
Moreover, the research provides a certain descriptive analysis with respect to the
impact imparted on nations. Moreover, the researcher has ascertained ways of
reducing military expenditure and enhancing transparency.
159
92
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1

Regulating Global Arms Trade and Security Through Increased Transparency

and Reduced Military Spending

exchange between conditions of weapons, weapons and related things when it is

known they would be utilized to perpetrate or encourage genocide, wrongdoings

against mankind, or atrocities. Nevertheless, a strong connection between military

proposed that agreements by countries to mutually limit military spending could go a

The main disadvantage is that to implement a spending limitation so as to properly

would have to be made available. Governments are progressively getting to be

noticeably mindful of the outcomes of questionable arms arrangements and tend to

feel more constrained to decline an arrangement if its authenticity is addressed. To

regularizing condition. Given the tremendous barrier spending plans of numerous

dangers. This research paper aims to investigate the repercussions of increased

transparency and reduced military spanning on global security. Furthermore, the

impacts of such areevaluated with respect to regulating Global Arms Trade.

List of Figures ............................................................................................................... 10

1.1: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 11

1.1.1 Terminological definitions:.................................................................................. 18

1.1.2 The Vital Role that UN played ............................................................................ 21

1.2 Problem Statement .................................................................................................. 27

1.3 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 30

1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study.......................................................................... 33

2.0 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 36

2.1: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 36

2.2: Research oinion...................................................................................................... 38

2.3: Research Philosophy .............................................................................................. 40

2.4: Research Design .................................................................................................... 41

2.6 Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 45

3.0 Literature Review.................................................................................................... 46

3.1: Recent trends.......................................................................................................... 46

3.1.1 Major Exporters and Importersof Conventional Weapons .................................. 52

3. 2 Effective Arms Trade Treaty ................................................................................. 56

3.4Arms Trade Treaty Myths and Realities .................................................................. 65

3.6 Serious Dialog and Demagoguery .......................................................................... 70

3.7 Constructivism in International Security and Strategy ........................................... 72

5.0 Lessons Learned: The ATT in 2018 ....................................................................... 84

6.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 87

7.0 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 90

ans 2013 ....................................................................................................................... 32

Figure 2: Research oinion ............................................................................................ 38

Figure 3: Research philosophy ..................................................................................... 40

Figure 4: Research design ............................................................................................ 42

Figure 5: UAE military expenditure ............................................................................ 49

Figure 5: Saudi’s military expenditure ........................................................................ 59

Figure 6: A harsh reality .............................................................................................. 65

This research paper intends to investigate the repercussions of increased transparency

areevaluated with respect to regulating Global Arms Trade.

constructed few research objectives. Adhering to the research objectives, the

researcher presented the research questions in this particular segment.

 To investigate how military spending can be reduced and transparency about

nation’s weapon purchase can be enhanced

 To investigate the impacts of transparency and reduced military spending on

regulating global arms trade

 To seek recommendations for better regulations of global arms trade

 How global arms trade impacts the regime of UAE?

regulating global arms trade?

investigating fares and imports, the nonattendance of standard strategies on gathering

uncovered the absence of openness in the arms undertaking.3The figure accessible,

Secondly, transparency in how the trade is conducted has been a problem

to corrupt administrations engaging in either was or clashes.11For instance, 2.2 million

heavily. 12 Notwithstanding the human toll this cycle of viciousness undermines

monetary improvement, political security stability, and growth especially in war-torn

reductions. 15 Soon after his inauguration, President Reagan proposed a program to