Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2010
Capstone Advisor
Hongying Wang
Honors Reader
Terry Crawford-Browne
Capstone Major
International Relations
Capstone College
Citizenship and Public Affairs
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Social Sciences
Subject Categories
Asian Studies | International and Area Studies
Abstract
The arms trade involves the international sale or importation of conventional arms. This means the proliferation of any non-nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. Today the global transfer of arms is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. The US has the world’s largest military expenditure and is known as the world’s greatest proliferator of conventional weapons. China in the past few years has maintained a position as one of the world’s largest importers of arms, and has recently taken the spot as the world’s second largest military expenditure.
Data from watchdog organizations suggests that the world is currently in a period of militarization that is fast approaching, militarization levels during the Cold War. Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe are all showing general patterns of increasing arms transfers. The reasoning behind the build up is difficult to say. Insecurity due to terrorism, scarce resources, wars in the Middle East, payment of bribes, or shifting foreign policies may all influence a nations decision to increase arms transfers.
Transfers of weapons between nations often give some insight into the overall relations between the two nations. China and the US have a history of uncertainty and distrust, and thus actual arms transfers and military agreements between these two nations are relatively uncommon. Nations that have long standing relationships tend to transfer arms on a more frequent basis. Therefore, by analyzing the global arms market one may better understand foreign relations.
The arms trade is a very lucrative business for the manufacturing companies. The US alone is home to nearly fifty of the worlds 100 most profitable arms companies. China does not have a single company in the world’s top 100, however China is still a major factor in the arms transfer arena (due to high importation of weapons). China’s combined surplus of foreign trade dollars and extensive production capabilities make China potentially one of the greatest proliferators of conventional weapons in the future.
The production of these weapons, while lucrative, is often destructive and counteractive to democracy. Unfortunately, the majority of arms deliveries are sent to developing nations that are more prone to human rights abuses and violations of international law. This disregard for human suffering demands international attention, but lack of transparency of this unethical trade has left many uniformed. In an attempt to increase transparency and knowledge about the arms trade, this paper provides some little known information about two of the world’s most influential participants.
Recommended Citation
Byrt, Conor, "A Comparative Look at the Post Cold War Chinese and US Arms Trade" (2010). Honors Capstone Projects - All. 390.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/390
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