Globalisation and Insecurity The Direct and Indirect Effects of Small Arms Availability
H. C. R. Muggah: The unregulated availability of small arms and light weapons made possible by globalisation undermines livelihood strategies and imperils development opportunities. The widespread diffusion of such weapons feeds cycles of insecurity that have broad-reaching consequences on individuals and the functioning of societies.
This article seeks to outline the broad social and economic consequences of unregulated small arms availability and use in the North and South. In distilling the broad ‘social’ effects of small arms availability on societies, the article departs from a traditional supply-side ‘demilitarisation’ approach to the study of small arms, opting instead for a more expansive appraisal of the varied dimensions of insecurity.
Linda Melvern 