STST1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Transit Passage, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone
STST1001 NOTES
WEEK 6, ARMS RACE AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS (23/3)
What are the most important military trends in the region?
Is there an arms race in Asia? If so, does it matter?
What impact do international and domestic factors have on arms build-ups in the
region?
Is there a nuclear renaissance in Asia? If so, why do states seek to join the nuclear
club?
How does the North Korean nuclear issue impact upon the risks of nuclear
proliferation in the Asia-Pacific? In particular, how does it affect Japan’s nuclear
ambitions?
How does India’s development of a nuclear weapons program affect the security
balance in the region?
Does nuclear proliferation pose a serious threat to the security and stability of the
Asia-Pacific region?
What is the future of nuclear strategy and arms control?
Would Australia ever consider going nuclear?
Why is military power important?
Realism and liberalism are concerned with the power of states (other theories –
constructivism/critical security studies/human security (peace keeping military) – can also be
used to study military power)
Military power is an important aspect
“...a state and its society can be, in their own terms, secure in the political, economic,
societal and environmental dimensions, and yet all of these accomplishments can be
undone by military failure” (Barry Buzan)
Constructivism, critical security studies and human security can also study military power
Calculating military power
Past: counted number of troops and weapons (states fought in the same way)
Today (more difficult), variations in:
otroop capability and training
osophistication of weapons (end of cold war – states had developed newer
weapons)
ocapacity to move troops
Alliances are also important to consider
Evolution of military technology
1. Until 1980s – military technology relatively conventional
2. After 1980s – ‘Revolution’ in military affairs
oNew technological era in warfare:
Rise of quality over quantity
Speciation of weapons
Centrality of commercial military technology (benefit
liberalist/capitalist states)
oBut, challenge of irregular opponents and WMDs
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Arms race:
“Two or more parties perceiving themselves to be in an adversary relationship, who are
increasing or improving their armaments at a rapid rate and restructuring their respective
military posture with a general attention to the past, current, and anticipated military and
political behaviour of the other parties” (Colin S. Gray) – realist perspective
Two types of arms race:
1. Type I – driven by the security dilemma/rational
oCounterforce strategies
oExistence of defences
oEscalation dominance – when an enemy makes threats to which you can’t
respond
2. Type II – driven by revisionism and deterrence
oStates can’t tolerate other states being more powerful than them
Conditions for arms races:
Two or more parties, conscious of their mutual antagonism
Parties structure their armed forces with attention to other participants – seeking to
deter – must be evidence of response to other states actions
Parties compete in terms of quality and/or quantity
Parties make rapid increases and/or improvements
Do arms races cause wars?
World War I has been attributed to an arms race
But, arms races can have positive aspects
oIncrease a states security
Arms race in the Asia-Pacific
States have increased military spending in response to a range of factors, not
competition
‘minimum deterrence’
oNot aimed at a future conflict, more aimed at deterring neighboring states
from attacking
North and South Korea – technically at war, economies do not allow an arms race
oSouth Korea’s military spending not directly linked to / response to North
Korea – mostly pressure from US
China downplays its military capabilities – not transparent
US GDP spent on defense decrease – may be due to failing economy or different
interests
Warn China of engaging in arms race against US – more strategic for China to accept
US/status quo
Arms race could occur in the future – likely more now than ever
What can be done about ‘arms races’?
Liberals
Disarmament:
oAbolishing weapons (i.e. through treaties)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Week 6, arms race and nuclear weapons (23/3) Does nuclear proliferation pose a serious threat to the security and stability of the. Realism and liberalism are concerned with the power of states (other theories constructivism/critical security studies/human security (peace keeping military) can also be used to study military power) A state and its society can be, in their own terms, secure in the political, economic, societal and environmental dimensions, and yet all of these accomplishments can be undone by military failure (barry buzan) Constructivism, critical security studies and human security can also study military power. Past: counted number of troops and weapons (states fought in the same way) Today (more difficult), variations in: troop capability and training, sophistication of weapons (end of cold war states had developed newer weapons, capacity to move troops. Evolution of military technology: until 1980s military technology relatively conventional, after 1980s revolution" in military affairs, new technological era in warfare:
