Arms Control [2 volumes]: History, Theory, and Policy

by Robert E. Williams Jr., Paul R. Viotti

Overview

Set against a backdrop of terrorism, rogue states, non-conventional warfare, and deteriorating diplomacy, this encyclopedia offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, up-to-date reference on the recent history and contemporary practice of arms control and nonproliferation.

Arms Control: History, Theory, and Policy features in-depth, expert analysis and information on the full spectrum of issues relating to this critical topic. The first major reference on arms control in over a decade, the two-volume set covers historical context, contemporary challenges, and emerging approaches to diplomacy and human rights. Noted experts provide a full spectrum of perspectives on arms control, offering insightful analysis of arms-control agreements and the people and institutions behind them.

Volume 1 provides an accessible historical overview of the subject and a more detailed conceptual analysis of the foundations of arms control. Volume 2 covers the contemporary and practical issues of arms control, focusing on global issues that arms control advocates have been forced to address with varying degrees of success: a burgeoning international trade in conventional weapons; a closely related flood of small arms and light weapons used to fuel intrastate conflicts and even genocide; and the spread of nuclear weapons to potentially unstable regions of the world.

• 30 illustrations and photos
• Sidebars including brief biographical profiles and quotations
• Charts and graphs
• Primary documents
• Timelines
• Glossary and list of acronyms

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275998202
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/15/2012
Series:	Praeger Security International
Pages:	784
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.30(h) x 2.30(d)

About the Author

Robert E. Williams Jr. is associate professor of political science at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA.

Paul R. Viotti is professor in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and executive director of the Institute on Globalization and Security (IGLOS), University of Denver.

Editorial Reviews

The "first major reference on arms control" is a series of essays, running five to 30 pages each, drawing from historical viewpoints including mythology, philosophy, and anthropology in the first volume and more contemporary issues such as the Cold War, cybersecurity, and space weaponry in the second volume. Each essay concludes with notes and often includes sources for further reading. Some of these topics may not be the first thing that comes to mind when everyday readers think about arms control; readers may consider some of it to be filler material. The appendixes in both volumes are very good, featuring arms-control treaties and biographical sketches of the major players. A downside to the set is that the chapters re-number in the second volume rather than continue from the first volume. VERDICT This is likely a useful college term-paper reference, but otherwise will find a limited audience, possibly as part of a special collection.—Beth Bland, Milwaukee, WI

Library Journal