Illicit Small Arms, Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition pose a serious global threat to the security of individuals, communities, and nation states. This SALW Identification Guide provides specialized agencies, security forces, and actors involved in regulating illegal trafficking of weapons... more
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To contribute to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, national governments and international organisations are working on improved SALW control around the world. This BICC photo publication gives the readers an insight into the work carried out by BICC and its partner organisations on the African... more
Every year, BICC’s Global Militarisation Index (GMI) presents the relative weight and importance of a country’s military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole. The GMI 2020 covers 151 states and is based on the latest available figures (in most cases data for 2019). The index project is... more
Restricted by the pandemic, BICC staff still continued their empirical research in regions characterised by forced displacement, volatile, violent conflicts and arms proliferation. BICC’s Annual Report illustrates the unique expertise of BICC: Research and policy advice that put the perspective of... more
Supporting security forces in third countries with training and/or military equipment is reasonable if it helps to strengthen a legitimised monopoly of force that improves peoples’ sense of security in their country. However, where the legitimacy of the security forces is in doubt, their human... more
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In the Western Balkans, the diversion of stateowned small arms and light weapons (SALW), and limited control over privately held SALW, are a main source of illicit arms trafficking. The HALO Trust has contributed to improving the control of SALW in BosniaHerzegovina (BiH) since 2017, when HALO... more
Please find the Peace Report 2020 here. more
Please find the Peace Report 2020 here. more
The German government always emphasises its "restrictive arms export policy". However, the states in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) are among the biggest customers of German arms producers. In their comments, Max Mutschler (BICC) and Simone Wisotzki (HSFK) criticise in... more
Every year, BICC’s Global Militarisation Index (GMI) presents the relative weight and importance of a country's military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole. The GMI 2019 covers 154 states and is based on the latest available figures (in most cases data for 2018). The index project is... more
The Council and the member states seem to have no common vision for developing a restrictive EU arms export control system. Likewise, the Commission focusses mainly on competition and industrial policy. Against this background, the author Charlotte Kehne makes the following policy... more
Since its foundation in 1994, BICC (Bonn International Center for Conversion) has developed into one of the leading institutes for peace and conflict research in Europe. BICC’s Annual Report illustrates: The unique scientific expertise of the Center derives from the empirical insights that its... more
Dealing with stockpiles of surplus ammunition remains a key challenge for many African countries. In the last 10 years, at least 38 ammunition sites across Africa reportedly experienced unplanned explosions, causing injury and loss of life as well as significant damage to infrastructure and the... more
On 26 June 2019, the German cabinet updated the "Political Principles for the Export of War Weapons and Other Military Equipment". Max Mutschler (BICC) and Simone Wisotzki (HSFK) welcome “some minor progress in German arms exports policy”. At the same time, the authors fear in their... more
In peace and security policy, international and regional regulatory frameworks are under pressure, as are the institutions that serve to implement them. In this situation, the existing rules and institutions must be protected, and at the same time new rules and processes for securing peace must be... more
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The English version of this Policy Brief is a translation of the original German version that was published on 25 February 2019. The "Khashoggi moratorium" on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, imposed by the federal government in response to the murder of the journalist, ends on 9 March. In... more
‘Stabilisation’ is becoming increasingly important as a policy paradigm in international security and development policy. However, different approaches to stabilisation are discussed in academia, policy and practice. Often, there is a tension between short-term approaches to stabilisation that are... more
Please find the article here. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) sets, for the first time ever, legally binding, international rules for arms transfers. However, due to several problems, in particular the lack of clarity of some of its central concepts, the ATT is far from a significant contribution to... more
Compiled by BICC, the Global Militarization Index (GMI) presents on an annual basis the relative weight and importance of a country's military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole. The GMI 2018 covers 155 countries and is based on the latest available figures (in most cases data for... more
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In its Annual Report 2018, the international peace and conflict research Institute BICC analyzes the question of how peace and sustainability can be interlinked, and which challenges arise from this. The Annual Report 2018 not only connects research projects on forced displacement with this... more
This Knowledge Note is an outcome of a practitioners’ workshop held at the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin on 26/27 February 2018. Among its 29 participants were 19 practitioners from West and southern Africa, United Nations organizations, European Union institutions and EU member states... more
The world is currently far removed from a stable and just peace order. The wars in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere have claimed thousands of victims and are forcing people to flee. The common concern for peace through international co-operation – for example in the United Nations (UN) – is... more
Please find the Peace Report 2018 here. more
Preventive arms control, narrowly defined, is about restrictions on weapons development. From this traditional understanding follows that cyber warfare will be hard, if not impossible, to regulate. In this article, we start from a less circumscribed definition of preventive arms control that would... more
Compiled by BICC, the Global Militarization Index (gmi) presents on an annual basis the relative weight and importance of a country's military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole. The GMI 2017 covers 151 states and is based on the latest available figures (in most... more
Physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) can be broadly defined as a series of activities that make national stockpiles of weapons and ammunition safe and secure. Over the last decade, PSSM has become a highly requested form of intervention to curb the illicit flow of small arms and light... more
The Training Report documents the PSSM seminar on weapons management in Khartoum from 24 to 28 September 2017, organized by RECSA, SARCOM, BICC and German Cooperation. more
Civil wars, such as in Syria/ Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan or in Donbass persist, as does forced migration as an effect of violent conflicts around the world. Researchers of the peace and conflict research institute BICC (Bonn International Center for Conversion) conduct empirical research and... more
The grand coalition that had governed Germany until September 2017 had initiated some change, particularly as regards transparency, small arms and end-use control in German arms exports policy. In BICC Policy Brief 7/2017 “Obligation to state reasons instead of laissez-faire—Recommendations to the... more
In Working Paper 7\2017, the author Marc von Boemcken analyzes the evolution of Conversion Studies from the Cold War to the post-Cold War period and discusses some of the reasons for the demise of the discipline in the new millennium. Based on a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of... more
War in the 21st century is more complex, volatile, society based and information intensive than ever before. One could simplify the description of waging war as different combinations of highly modern, traditional and asymmetric components, which, according to the postmodern maxim “anything goes”,... more
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Compiled by BICC, the Global Militarization Index (gmi) presents on an annual basis the relative weight and importance of a country’s military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole. The GMI 2016 covers 152 states and is based on the latest available figures (in most cases data for 2015).... more
This Knowledge Note provides an insight into current realities, behaviour and practices in arms and ammunition storage sites in north-western DR Congo. Tailored recommendations for strengthening ammunition and weapons safety by improving physical security measures and renovating infrastructural... more
An analysis of the first round of annual reports reveals considerable gaps and reporting deficits; in particular with regard to the number of reports delivered on time, the concealment of information, missing transfers, the comparability and the level of detail in the reports. These deficits are in... more
On 28 October 2015, BICC hosted its annual international conference entitled “Networks of Organised Violence”. The topic of the conference was chosen because of a perceived shift from the primacy of the state to the importance of networks in perpetrating organised violence. Its aim was to view... more
This policy brief aims to equip SALW policymakers and practitioners with an understanding of how increased wide-scale wildlife trafficking is directly linked to the involvement of organized crime, heavily armed state and non-state actors and the proliferation of small arms, light weapons and... more
Please find the Peace Report 2016 here. more
There are still large deficiencies in small arms and light weapons (SALW) and conventional ammunition (CA) storage and management in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and bordering states. Particularly state capacities to plan and implement physical security and stockpile management (PSSM)... more
This Working Paper examines military interventions by precision strikes from a distance as a means to avoiding ground combat with own troops. A prominent strand of the literature argues that this is a particularly Western phenomenon; a consequence of the casualty aversion of democratic states and... more
The Greater Sahel region has never experienced such a high-level of arms availability. Given the large array of efforts now in place across the region to stem the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), it is pertinent to take stock, assess who is doing what, and reflect on... more
The proliferation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Africa is partly attributable to weak national controls, the porosity of state borders, and ongoing armed conflict on the continent. To address these problems a number of initiatives have been undertaken by states, regional... more
In collaboration with Sudan's National Focal Point on Small Arms Control, BICC has published the Civilian Arms Registration and Marking Handbook, available in both English and Arabic. This Handbook is a guide on arms registration and marking (ARM) for practitioners, government officials, and... more
Reader Sicherheitspolitik, 11/2015, pdf In: Bundesministerium für Verteidigung. 2015. Der Reader Sicherheitspolitik - Transformation im 21. Jahrhundert more
Compiled by BICC, the Global Militarisation Index (GMI) presents on an annual basis the relative weight and importance of a country's military apparatus in relation to its society as a whole. The 2015 GMI covers 152 states and is based on the latest available figures (in most cases data for 2014).... more
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) hosted a two-day international academic conference on “Facing Organised Violence: Research Agendas and Conversion Potentials” from 27 to 28 October 2014 in Bonn. The aim of the conference was to approach... more
Please find the Peace Report 2015 here. more
Please find the Peace Report 2015 here. more
Conrad Schetter, Director for Research at BICC, maintains that the German government has a duty to implement its plea for a new responsibility at the upcoming G7 summit. "The G7 are well advised to discuss a way to a more peaceful and just world rather than about increased military armament,... more
The first Conference of States Parties to the International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will take place in Mexico City from 24 to 27 August 2015. Of central importance for the successful implementation of the ATT is the issue of reporting, which is closely related to the issue of transparency. In... more
In the “Report on the Work of the Arms Registration and Marking (ARM) Program and on Community Security and Arms Control (CSAC) in West Darfur (in Arabic)" Dr Sami Faltas presents the results of his field research in West Darfur, Sudan. The study was assigned by BICC and the Sudan DDR... more
The Global Militarisation Index (GMI) depicts the relative weight and importance of the military apparatus of one state in relation to its society as a whole. The update of the GMI 2014 is based on data from the year 2013 (i. e. the most recent year for which data has been available) and comprises... more
From 2011 until 2014, BICC worked with the government of South Sudan to improve the management of state-owned arms and ammunition. In BICC Working Paper 1\ 2014 Luuk van de Vondervoort evaluates this BICC advisory project on state-owned arms control. The difficulties related to improving arms... more
In the “Report on the Work of the Arms Registration and Marking (ARM) Program and on Community Security and Arms Control (CSAC) in West Darfur” Dr Sami Faltas presents the results of his field research in West Darfur, Sudan. The study was assigned by BICC and the Sudan DDR Commission (SDDRC). The... more
Dr. Marc von Boemcken comments on a possible new orientation in German arms export policy, initiated by Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs. There is reason to hope that at least the export of land-based weapons systems to states that systematically violate human rights... more
Friedensgutachten 2014. LIT:Münster. more
In Focus 13, BICC researcher Jan Grebe analyzes the changes in the reporting on German arms exports foreseen in the coalition agreement and the key issue paper of the governing parties. His conclusion is critical: All changes in arms exports control will have to be judged against whether they... more
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BICC brief 49 “Smart Technology in SALW Control–Civilian Protection, the UN-PoA, and Transfer Control (SmartCon)”, edited by Michael Ashkenazi, Elvan Isikozlu and Marc Kösling, contains the majority of papers presented at the SmartCon 2013 in Berlin, sponsored by the German Federal Foreign Office... more
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Update of the Global Militarization Index of BICC 2013 more
Paper prepared for the Annual Middle East Association (MESA) Convention October 10–13 2013. New Orleans, USA. more
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A new study commissioned by the German church aid organizations MISEREOR and Brot für die Welt calls for more involvement of the Bundestag in and improved oversight mechanisms for arms exports. The study „Parlamentarische Kontrolle und Transparenz von Rüstungsexporten“ (in German) by the Bonn... more
The study analyzes the current trends on the international arms market and the role EU Member States play as well as the adherence to the Criteria of the EU Common Position. It also takes a closer look at the effects of austerity measures on the European defense industry and the shift towards... more
The (renewed) rise of China has been one of the central topics in international politics since the 1990s. This development brings along a number of far-reaching regional and global consequences. A comprehensive maritime rearmament—not only by China itself but also its immediate neighbors and other... more
BICC brief 47 is dedicated to the issue of Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). The authors Dr. Michael Ashkenazi, Princess Amuzu, Jan Grebe, Christof Kögler and Marc Kösling provide a comprehensive survey of all aspects of MANPADS as a challenge to managing civilian security. The... more
This Guide addresses countries that wish to start improving their approaches to and practices of arms and ammunition management and are at relatively early stages of improvement. The current version of the Starter Guide will be developed further this year. The “Starter Guide towards strong Arms... more
There were strong fears this Spring that Israel may have been about to launch an attack on Iran. US President Obama made it clear to Israeli Prime Minister Netanjahu that he considered such a course of action to be wrong at that given time. Meanwhile, negotiations have got underway with... more
As was the case in Iraq, today a possible strike on Iran is justified with half-truths, myths and incorrect statements. Such statements by politicians as well as often one-sided, uncritical or even alarmist press coverage impede serious debate.Nevertheless, there is still time for diplomacy—but... more
Update of the Global Militarization Index (GMI) of BICC 2012 more
Again, Israeli government politicians and hawks in the United States are talking about military strikes against Iran and its nuclear program. Again, the United Nations and the European Union are preparing and imposing sanctions against Iran. The violent attack of Iranian students on the British... more
Countries emerging from a long period of armed conflict have to find solutions for getting widespread possession of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and related trade flows under control. The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) is a case in point. According to estimates, 2.7 million SALW are available... more
Please find the "Friedensgutachten 2011" here. more
The Global Militarization Index (GMI) of BICC (Bonn International Center for Conversion) presents the militarization of a country and thus shows developments and processes in resource allocation of a given country. It can be used as a tool for assessing the relationship between military to... more
Documentation of the international Symposium “Peace on earth? Initiatives for disarmament, non-violence and dialogue” in Bonn, discussing the topics: On the way to Global Zero nuclear armament—Where are we now?Ethnic conflicts—Solutions from theory and practical experienceVictims of war—A... more
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Greece’s national bankruptcy could only be averted with the aid of considerable loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The government’s high military spending and extensive arms purchases in recent years have contributed to the country’s desolate financial... more
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On 4 December 2008, the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) and Deutsche Welle jointly organized a half-day conference on the nuclear dispute with Iran in Bonn, entitled “After the Elections in the United States: New Chances for a Compromise in the Nuclear Dispute with Iran?” With the... more
BICC brief 37 is based on the proceedings of the Seminar ‘Environment and Conflict—Evaluating and strengthening the means of interdisciplinary cooperation’, which took place in Bonn from the 18–20 September 2007. This Seminar was organized by BICC in cooperation with GMOSS (Global Monitoring for... more
In recent months, NATO has approached member states with a request to redeploy several AWACs (Airborne Warning and Control) planes, currently based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, in support of air operations in Afghanistan. BICC, building on previous experience in Afghanistan, addresses two issues in... more
The port of Hamburg is the largest port in Germany, the third-largest port in Europe and, as the second largest container terminal in Europe, is one of the nine largest container terminals in the world (Deutsche Verkehrs-Zeitung, 2001). This study offers a comprehensive insight into the job... more
Newsletter of the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA) more
Paper presented at the conference: Privatisierung im Sicherheitssektor. Neue sicherheitspolitische Risiken – Neue Synergien, Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik (BakS), Potsdam, 20–21 February. more
The purpose of this manual is to help strengthen the capacity of the West African community to deal with the devastating consequences of the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). It is intended as a primer for those with little or no experience in SALW... more
The modern, complex industrialized states of the West are faced with multi-faceted challenges with regard to their overall national security, especially since 9/11 2001 and the following terrorist attacks in Europe: international terrorism, organized crime, drugs- and human trafficking, political... more
The purpose of this Manual is to help strengthen the capacity of the West African community to deal with the devastating consequences of the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). It is intended as a primer for those with little or no experience in SALW action, and as an... more
The purpose of this Manual is to help strengthen the capacity of the West African community to deal with the devastating consequences of the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). It is intended as a primer for those with little or no experience... more
The goals of this manual are: To provide an overview of the SALW issue and issues specific to West Africa.To promote action on SALW control in West Africa through the sharing of resources, good practice, case studies and tips from across the sub-region. To provide future trainers... more
The goals of this manual are: To provide an overview of the SALW issue and issues specific to West Africa.To promote action on SALW control in West Africa through the sharing of resources, good practice, case studies and tips from across the sub-region. To provide future trainers... more
While in February 2007 a promising agreement was reached for the North Korean nuclear program after the United States changed its negotiating strategy, there have been no signs of any such easing of tension as far as Iran is concerned. The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions because Iran has... more
The Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) organized a panel discussion on 14 June 2006 on which international experts voiced their opinions on the conflict about the Iranian nuclear program. The... more
This paper provides an economic account of demand for small arms as a response to politicoeconomic motivations arising from polarization and rent-seeking. Polarization has already been employed in the existing literature as a measure of the potential for conflict between groups of opposing... more
BICC brief 34 deals with the military reform and the defense conversion process in Albania, Macedonia and Croatia. Among the issues covered are the adoption and implementation of strategic-doctrinal documents, and the modernization and downsizing of armed forces, including the reintegration... more
Iran is under the suspicion of wanting to manufacture nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. So far, there is no clear proof of an active Iranian nuclear weapons program, and Iran is adamant in denying that it wants nuclear weapons. The current uranium enrichment... more
Headnotes: Concept of peace dividend and disarmament: Myth v. Reality – Recognition of the need for thorough analysis through examining the implementation of a arms control or disarmament instrument, felt in the governmental as well as research institutions – This paper, a response to such a need –... more
In the context of the discourse on ‘new wars’, in which economic motives and agendas are of major importance, increasing attention is being focused on the role of the private business sector in contemporary violent conflicts and wars. Private business can contribute both to the outbreak of violent... more
Paper 43 is a result of a cooperation between the Colombian foundation “Ideas para la Paz”, the Universidad de los Andes, and the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), which started in 2002 at a conference in Bogota entitled “Voces y opciones del desarme: Enseñanzas adquiridas de la... more
BICC brief 31, issued jointly by the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) and the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), is the product of a series of activities conducted by these organizations on “Demobilization and Reintegration in the Western... more
This report has been written to reflect some of the debates between different actors and partners involved in the process of demobilization and reintegration of former combatants in Afghanistan, and to examine the planning, coordination and early implementation of UNICEF’s program to demobilize and... more
One outcome of this study is that such an accumulation of weapons also poses dangers in times of peace. They threaten the environment and represent a high risk to security, particularly in view of the activity of international terrorist groups. The disposals of such weapons necessitates a... more
The eastward enlargement of the EU is accompanied by the accession of four new member states from Central and Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 and the integration of their defence industry infrastructures into... more
More than two billion human beings throughout the world still live on less than US $2 per day, a situation the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations were designed to redress. Despite progress in a number of areas, the Goals are unlikely to be met without major policy changes. A... more
The overall aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of the role external actors play in Somalia’s war economy. To achieve this, the study will take a close look at the impact of international economic agents; that is, individuals, groups of people, corporations and institutions based... more
The following short case studies will present and discuss readily available information on deficits in the planning, programming implementation and control of military expenditures in the East- African countries of Ethiopia, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.The case studies are structured as... more
BICC brief 30 documents the international conference “Promoting Security: But How and For Whom?” which took place on from 1 to 2 April 2004 in Bonn and was dedicated to BICC’s 10th anniversary.The conference discussed six topics, each of which was to be deliberated in its own discussion... more
Volume III considers the role that the military has played in state formation and nation-building in five southern African countries, namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. more
In the political arena, the revenue from oil had a direct impact on the delicate balance of military power between the Government of Sudan and its principal enemy, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). This report analyzes how the funds from the oil boom have allowed the government side to buy... more
The objectives of this paper are primarily four-fold. First, the paper will examine critical aspects of defence-industrial policies adopted by India in the past and link those to performance. It will examine the factors that have influenced India’s defence production and their co-relationship with... more
The purpose of this study is to explore the complex relationship between refugees and arms diffusion. It examines the nature and extent of refugee involvement in small arms diffusion by analysing refugees’ demand for small arms and how their crossborder movements lead to the circulation of arms.... more
The ‘Tools for Arms’ approach in Mozambique is a case in point and a spearheading example: For the very first time, civil society is taking responsibility for the population’s disarmament at a national level, thereby making an essential contribution towards peace and reconciliation.BICC brief 29... more
This paper deals with legal aspects of European Security and Defence Policy, and particularly the interpretation of Art. 296 of the Amsterdam Treaty1 (formerly 223 of the Rome Treaty) allowing “for the protection of the essential interests of its security which are connected with the production of... more
The development of the European Security and Defence Policy means that the EU also needs to respond to the global armaments agenda. However, as this book shows, this is a contested and under-researched policy space. There are conflicting pressures between the claims of trade and security. Should... more
Sweeping political and economic transformations worldwide have brought substantial reductions in armaments, armed forces and their associated costs. The authors describe a "decade of disarmament" after decades of an uninterrupted arms race.The decreased military employment of resources... more
Provides a conceptual framework for the analysis of demilitarisation and peace-building processes, applicable particularly in the southern Africa context. This volume argues that a broad concept of peace- building has to take into account economic, political, social and cultural factors, at the... more
In 2002 the authors were asked to, and duly submitted, a report to the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy entitled ‘Equipment for EU Crisis Management’ (Pullinger, Quille, Mawdsley et al, 2003). That report overviewed the pertinent... more
BICC brief 28 documents the e-conference “Afghanistan: Assessing the Progress of Security Sector Reform, One Year After the Geneva Conference”, which took place from 4 to 11 June 2003. About 100 participants, amongst them representatives of international organizations, research institutes and civil... more
BICC brief 27 summarizes the insights gained and lessons learned from the downsizing of the armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the wake of the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) of December 1995.The three major reintegration projects covered by this report (two World Bank projects and one run... more
Often, in the debate about globalization, a cross-border integration of national markets is highlighted and, from this, a new quality of the world market is being deduced. This study investigates whether this also holds true for the markets in defense equipment. Even though cross-border linkages of... more
Defense industrial policy is increasingly playing a role in this debate as the need to tackle armaments policy in a more European framework became clear. Is a European defense industrial policy emerging? Who or what are the factors driving it? Are the developments moving in the right direction?... more
This paper seeks to find out if an understanding of previous micro-disarmament programs could serve as the basis for policy measures that could effectively tackle the problem of small arms and their misuse in the sub-region of Central Africa. The paper attempts this by first reviewing the... more
The purpose of this research is to examine Korea’s defense aerospace industry in pursuit of a new direction. In doing so, it aims to analyze the development of Korean aircraft industry while at the same time examining the extent of Korea’s dependence on the United States and its effort to pursue... more
João Porto and Imogen Parsons have provided a vital ‘road map’ to current efforts aimed at achieving peaceful demilitarization in Angola. Through their carefully considered study of the dynamics involved in a complex phenomena – made doubly so by institutional density, shifting agendas on the part... more
In the past year, political leaders and the general public alike have paid increasing attention to what are seen as ‘new threats’ as well as the responses to them. Authoritarian or failed states, terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the legitimization of preemptive wars all... more
It is easy to exaggerate the problem of lack of legitimacy and it is important to remember that ESDP is only a part of national defence and security policies particularly in Britain and France. There are other simpler reasons too why there is a gap between ESDP rhetoric and its reality as discussed... more
BICC brief 26 concerns Eastern Europe’s management of reintegration of military servicemen into civilian life. It looks particularly at the experiences gathered in Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Hungary after the demise of socialism. The prime goal is to generalize experiences, identify shortcomings... more
BICC brief 25 centers around reforms of the military forces in Eastern Europe following the demise of socialism. It particularly highlights experiences gained in their downsizing and restructuring. The authors identify challenges of and work out causes for national reform deadlocks, and draw... more
BICC brief 24 “Gender Perspectives on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Regional and International Concerns” is based on a workshop in Jinja, Uganda, from 14 to 17 April 2002. The publication addresses problems related to the easy availability of small arms from a gender-specific angle. The workshop... more
This paper will analyze the transformation processes in Bulgaria in order to determine which are the most influential factors leading to the sharp decline in the defense industry, and its costs—and benefits in the form of military conversion—to Bulgarian development. Secondly, it will analyze... more
BICC brief 23 “Small Arms in the Horn of Africa: Challenges, Issues and Perspectives” is about the SALIGAD Project (Small Arms and Light Weapons: Assessing Issues and Developing Capacity for Peace in the Horn of Africa.) The project’s basic aim was to promote and facilitate dialogue, and to ... more
BICC brief 21 “Small States—Big Worries. Choice and Purpose in the Security Policies of the Baltic States” looks into factors that have determined the Baltic security policy since independence in 1991.The development of security concepts and the buildup of armies in the Baltic can be divided into... more
On behalf of the Research and Documentation Division of the German Bundestag, BICC conducted research on the following topics: • Effects and consequences of international/inter-state agreements and contracts on arms exports, or international arms cooperation and collaboration regarding German... more
The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 may well be remembered as a turning point in recent history, marking the end of the post-Cold War era. As documented in detail in the Update, after a decade of cuts in military expenditures, reductions in arms production, job losses in the defense... more
BICC brief 20 “Wag the Dog” is about the creation of the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in the 1990s as well as the dissolution of the guerilla force after the establishment of a protectorate under the aegis of the United Nations and NATO in Summer 1999.More than two years later, this is... more
BICC brief 19 “Assisting Conversion and Company Restructuring in Modova. A Tacis-funded Project” presents a case study of the TACIS (Technical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Independent States) project, which was carried out by a team of experts and headed by members of the Bonn International... more
The current slowdown in disarmament and conversion, after a decade of reductions, makes it imperative to find new ways of revitalizing these processes. With global military expenditures on the rise again and classical arms control inadequate to the new situation, there is a great need to develop... more
Most armed conflicts today are waged within states. When a conflict is settled, the process of peace-building must begin. One of the first challenges is Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration. The risk of fresh violence will be reduced if combatants turn to peaceful pursuits, and their... more
After the end of the Cold War, the changed security policy situation caused demand for arms to drop steadily. The accompanying challenges faced by the German arms industry are described by using the aerospace, shipbuilding and tank design industry as an example. Without support by the state, the... more
BICC brief 18 “Conversion in South Africa in the 1990s” describes and analyses South Africa’s record on conversion in the last decade. The brief focuses primarily on the years since the advent of democracy in South Africa in April 1994 and examines the remaining challenges. more
BICC brief 17 “Russia’s Defense Industry at the Turn of the Century” shows that recovery in the defense sector after the crisis of 1998 was mainly the result of import substitution by middle-sized, privatized entities which sold significant parts of their production in barter transactions and which... more
This report lists policies and practical measures on effective small arms control recommended by various organizations and individuals.The European Commission ordered it because it wishes to implement the Council resolution of 21 May 1999. Though the report is meant for use in development policy,... more
The six papers published in BICC brief 16 “Practical Disarmament” look specifically at weapons in conflict situations. They were originally presented at an international BICC conference, entitled “The Contribution of Disarmament and Conversion to Conflict Prevention and its Relevance for... more
Five papers are published in BICC brief 15 “Security Sector Reform”, originally presented at an international BICC conference entitled “The Contribution of Disarmament and Conversion to Conflict Prevention and its Relevance for Development Cooperation”. more
This report suggests a framework for a country interested in assessing the scope of its military assets that have potential for transformation into peaceful, productive purposes as part of a post-conflict or structural adjustment package. This report draws no conclusions as to an optimal level of... more
In 1999 the world risked losing sight of on-going disarmament efforts as wars such as Kosovo and Chechnya took the headlines. Nuclear arms negotiations stalled, 'old' conflicts continued, and the United States extended its role as the dominant military power, prompting a debate in Europe as to its... more
The tasks of this study are to examine the historical antecedents of the Chinese military-business complex, especially the imperial, pre-1949 and Maoist periods, focusing on the similarities and differences between the earlier systems and the current system.Furthermore, the study identifies the... more
The Hungarian defense industry has undergone a radical transformation since the end of the 1980s. From 1994 the first signs of consolidation appeared. The most important sectoral transformation took place in three dimensions: ownership changes, profile changes and organizational changes. more
With the 'disarmament decade' drawing to a close, perceptible changes in worldwide demilitarization are taking place. The initial post-Cold War enthusiasm for a 'peace dividend' is tempered somewhat by revelations of a recent deceleration in disarmament initiatives. While this trend is reflected in... more
BICC brief 12 “The UNTAES Experience: Weapons Buy-back in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (Croatia)” analyses the weapons buyback program by the United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) started in 1996 and financed by the... more
BICC brief 11 „Reasonable Measures:Addressing the Excessive Accumulation and Unlawful Use of Small Arms” is directed to interested governments and organizations, acting both unilaterally and collectively to address the issue, as well as those states directly affected by excessive accumulation and... more
This report provides an analysis of the modern economic structure of Nizhniy Novgorod oblast and significant structural changes which took place after systemic reforms were launched with the special focus on defense industry and conversion. Niches for actual and potential growth have been... more
With the conversion survey 1998, the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)presents its third yearbook. This year's edition lays emphasis on the worldwide process of adaptation of the defense industries-downsizing, concentration and conversion-to drastically reduced military expenditures... more
BICC brief 10 “Peaceful Fallout:The Conversion of China's Military–Nuclear Complex to Civilian Use” comes to the conclusion that conversion of China’s military–nuclear complex to civilian use is not by any means irreversible, nor does it imply a downgrading of military–nuclear programs. As a matter... more
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC) is a multilateral treaty which obligates its signatories to destroy their chemical weapons within ten years of the treaty's entry into force. It also bans the... more
This Paper provides an overview of the status and problems related to nuclear submarine decommissioning worldwide. After a brief description of the history and development of the world nuclear submarine forces, it discusses the main dismantlement and disposal technologies currently used. Here, it... more
Since 1990, the world’s largest defense industry has shrunk by one-third. BICC brief 9 “US Conversion after the Cold War, 1990–1997. Lessons for Forging a New Conversion Policy” describes the resulting changes for the US arms industry, defense-dependent communities, members of the armed forces and... more
Military cutbacks in the 1990s have led to a decline in the purchase of new weapon systems: the global value of transfers of major conventional weapons, as measured by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI, 1996) fell from a peak of US $46,535 million in 1987 to US $22,797... more
n its second yearbook Conversion Survey 1997: Global Disarmament and Disposal of Surplus Weapons, BICC (Bonn International Center for Conversion) presents an up-to-date overview of the most recent trends in international disarmament and conversion. Disarmament is continuing worldwide, even if the... more
From 19 to 21 May 1996, representatives of sixteen countries and five international organizations (see attached participants list) met at the Gästehaus Petersberg in Bonn, Germany, to discuss ongoing and future efforts in the dismantlement and destruction of nuclear, chemical and conventional... more
For the first time, BICC brief 8 “Conversion in Poland: The Defense Industry and Base Redevelopment” offers an analysis of experiences made both in industrial and regional conversion in Poland.The redevelopment process of former bases is markedly behind the restructuring of the arms industry. A... more
BICC brief 7 „The New Field of Micro-Disarmament: Addressing the Proliferation and Buildup of Small Arms and Light Weapons” provides an overview of the various components of the issue, including its history and evolution, the types of small arms and light weapons of concern, the various types of... more
The mixed conscript/professional army in the Netherlands with its high dependence on mobilization was transformed into a professional-only army after 1996. The large amounts of equipment necessary under the old standing army and mobilization system were no longer required. To cope with a then... more
Perceptions of the Russian military–industrial complex, as they emerge from policy debates and academic literature, center around three major points. First, it is immense—the share of defense industry employment in overall industrial employment is about 25 percent. Second, the military–industrial... more
BICC brief 6 “Cost of Disarmament” gives an overview of the economic costs of the dismantlement of weapons and the disposal of military surplus. more
BICC brief 5 “Eurofighter 2000: Consequences and Alternatives” deals with the development and procurement of fighter jets type Eurofighter 2000 representing the largest current arms project in Western Europe. The current restructuring of the aviation industry worldwide has raised some doubt about... more
Consequences and Alternatives of the Eurofighter 2000. A study of four countries more
Sweeping political and economic transformations worldwide have brought substantial reductions in armaments, armed forces and their associated costs. The authors describe a "decade of disarmament" after decades of an uninterrupted arms race.The decreased military employment of resources... more
BICC brief 4 “Demobilization in the Horn of Africa” is about a workshop on Demobilization and Reintegration in the Horn of Africa was organized by the International Resource Group on Disarmament and Security in the Horn of Africa (IRG), in cooperation with the Ad Hoc Committee for Peace and... more
BICC brief 3 “Coping with Surplus Weapons: A Priority for Conversion Research and Policy.” Many weapons are decommissioned due to disarmament agreements such as the START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), the end of violent conflict,... more
BICC brief 2 “Abhängigkeit der Werften im Ostseeraum von der Rüstungsproduktion“ ("Dependency of the Ship Industry around the Baltic Sea on Naval Ship Building") attempts to analyze the trends in the European ship-building industry during the period 1990-1993. Although the post-Cold War... more
BICC brief 1 “Conversion of the Post-Soviet Defense Industry: Implications for Russian Economic Development” analyses the problems of Russian defense industry conversion which are also prevalent in civilian industry restructuring. more
This module is intended to serve as a guideline for members of national and local civil society and civil society organizations (CSOs) and their representatives that want to become involved in small arms and light weapons (SALW) control. CSOs include, for example, registered charities or non-profit... more
This workbook is an essential part of the TRESA "Reintegration Strategies for Ex-Combatants" module. It is intended to serve as adraft template for the preparation of a reintegration plan for your own country or region. When filling out this workbook, please keep in mind that the... more
This workbook is an essential part of the TRESA "Reintegration Strategies for Ex-Combatants" module. It is intended to serve as adraft template for the preparation of a reintegration plan for your own country or region. When filling out this workbook, please keep in mind that the... more
Along with the other modules that comprise the series SALW Basics, this module is intended to provide a basic fundamental understanding of the issue of SALW for trainees who have had little or no previous exposure to the subject. We recommend those trainees, who are already familiar with... more
Please find the "Friedensgutachten 2008" here. more
