MPs recommend disarmament strategy developed by SOAS academic
14 August 2009
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed an holistic approach to disarmament made by Dr Dan Plesch of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy
The MPs report can be viewed here (pdf).
The Committee’s report stated:
“Dr Plesch claimed that in practice there is still a “piecemeal approach towards proliferation” and argued that a genuinely comprehensive and global approach to non-proliferation would involve the integration of policy “on nuclear and other WMD non- proliferation, arms control, and disarmament with strategy on conventional weapons to implement a holistic approach within a new Strategic Concept for the Regulation of Arms Possession and Proliferation.”
“A major push is needed, not just to control the conventional weapons trade, but also to “reduce holdings of major weapons systems, ordnance stocks and production.””
“He referred to the longstanding legal commitment in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to “general disarmament” of all weapons apart from those needed for internal policing.”
In terms of timescale, Dr Plesch proposed that: one could look at getting the job done in the course of a decade. If we have timetables for global warming, and if we think that it is practical to get to grips with the entire climate of the planet, we should also see that it is practical to get to grips with weaponry.”
“We conclude that there is a balance to be struck between addressing the specific threats posed by individual categories of weapons, and considering general disarmament in a more holistic fashion.
We recommend that the Government should consider whether it can better build such considerations into its policies.” Paras 364. and 365
The overall CISD Disarmament and Globalisation research programme was launched at a conference 7 January 2008
Contact: Poul Eric Christiansen dp27@soas.ac.uk
- Dan Plesch’s discussion with the Committee (oral evidence)
- Dan Plesch’s discussion with the Committee (writing)
The CISD’s 4th London Conference on a Middle East WMD Free Zone will take place at SOAS on October 5th 2009.
