REGIONAL ARMS CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEVELOPING AREAS. ARMS AND ARMS CONTROL IN LATIN AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND AFRICA
Abstract
This study is concerned with the possibilities, limitations, and prospects of arms control and disarmament for three major underdeveloped areas of the world-Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa focusing both on arms control measures that might commend themselves to the countries in these areas as being in their own best interest, and those that might profitably be initiated or supported by the United States Government. The basic conclusion is that the goal of finding better ways to restrict the arms competitions that exist or are about to start in the regions in question belongs very high in the hierarchy of U. S. strategic and foreign policy interests. This interest rates alongside the extremely potent U. S. interest in the successful transition of the developing countries into stable and viable societies; and the latter objective is probably unattainable if arms competitions swallow up the margin of resources needed for development that so many of them still lack. The interest also rates as a vital part of the high U. S. interest in reducing the capacity of secondary disputes to erupt into great power war. The more stable the strategic balance in great power relations, the greater the temptation for one of the superpowers to engage in competitive military assistance in areas adjacent to the zones of dominant influence of the other. Thus the potential for intensified arms competition in the developing areas may be growing. A vigorous arms control policy may be necessary in order not to lose ground.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 21, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0610187
Entities
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology