Proceedings from the 11th General Conference of the International Peace Research Association, held at the University of Sussex in April, 1986. Theoretical analyses on the context and on the dual function of military technology, as well as case studies of the third generation of nuclear weapons. More than 30 pages of bibliographic entries focus on SDI, nuclear weapons, international law, and chemical weapons. Acidic paper. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Commemorating the Stockholm Peace Research Institute's 20th anniversary, this compendium of research findings on arms control over a ten year span discusses a wide array of topics from the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of the arms race to military use of outer space.

This book explores and analyzes the rapid pace of technological evolution in diplomatic, information, military, and economic sectors, which has contributed to a dynamic international policy environment. Global political stability is greatly influenced by innovations originating from numerous sources, including university labs, the technology sector, and military research. Collectively, these innovations guide the movement of people, ideas, and technology that in turn affect the international balance of power. The objective of this volume is to develop new insights into how the proliferation of innovative ideas, low-cost weapons, and dual-use technologies impact the changing global security landscape. Innovative and dual-use technologies can be used for beneficial purposes or defensive purposes. Alternatively they may be appropriated or employed for nefarious purposes by hostile military powers and non-state actors alike. Such actions can threaten global security and stability. As the complexity of technological innovations continues to increase, existing control mechanisms such as international regulations and security arrangements may be insufficient to stem the tide of proliferation over time. As such, this works seeks to assess and present policy solutions to curtail the threat to global stability posed by the proliferation of weapons and dual-use technology.

Evangelista provides a new framework for analyzing U.S. and Soviet innovations in weapons technology. In America, development is generated from the bottom up with scientists providing the initial impetus. Soviet weapons innovation occurs from the top down, as soviet leaders react to external forces, particularly American initiatives. With current weapons programs such as the Strategic Defense Initiative, the author sees opportunities for arms control. The United States must recognize that technological innovation is no guarantee of security. The Soviet Union must decide not to match American innovation. ISBN 0-8014-2165-9: $32.95.