Disarming Proposals
A new book on WMD Purchase Online
- by: Dr Andy Butfoy
- June 2005
"Weapons of Mass Destruction" is a term used by Western nations when they talk about countries like Iran, North Korea and the threat of terror. In an era in which the War against Terrorism and the challenge of rogue states have replaced the Cold War as dominant themes in world affairs, WMDs have captured headlines around the world.
But how useful is the term? According to international relations specialist Andy Butfoy, the constant talk of WMDs is often simplistic, misleading and politically manipulative. In this timely book he looks at the reality of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, providing an overview of who has these weapons and what they are capable of.
Dr Butfoy describes the main pillars of the global non-proliferation regime and the political foundations that underpin it. He explores the challenges facing efforts at controlling WMD.These include the potential for "virtual" proliferation, the need to deal with non-signatories, tightening-up inspections, the difficulty of enforcing international rules, and the impact of US unilateralism. All this is placed in the context of competing ideas of how best to manage world
"Andy Butfoy"s careful dissection of the many and complex arguments that swirl around debates over weapons of mass destruction is a model of clarity. A judicious exposition of the key issues, it makes the case that arms control has played a more important role in preventing WMD proliferation than many realise, but argues that far more needs to be done if the threat of proliferation is to be kept at bay."
Andrew Mack, director of the Human Security Centre, University of British Columbia, and former director of strategic planning in the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations