Small Arms Proliferation Behavior Logic: Military Keynesianism

Small Arms Control, as one part of the International Conventional Arms Control, is quite different from other kinds of Arms Control, such as the nuclear, chemical and biological weapons or ballistic missiles. However, the small arms had frequently been put into use in regional and internal conflicts all over the world, resulting in heavy casualties of civilians, many of them women and children, thus commanding attention from the international community, and have gradually developed a hot topic in the field of international multilateral disarmament.Even though the possession of large amounts of weapons does not automatically evolve into abuse of violence, the proliferation of firearms would make people more inclined to choose violence to resolve their issues. We can assert that the arms suppliers, including producers and manufacturers, are the engine behind the global proliferation of small arms, and that the industrial logic of Military Keynesianism is the guiding spirit for a great deal of money.According to the theory of Military Keynesianism, when insufficient demand occurs in the economic system, the government can stimulate economic growth and improve the rate of employment by means of increasing military input. The government is not willing and does not even try to veil their efforts to increase military spending for the reason of pacifist thought and the practical difficulties of comprehensive national strength, and therefore, arms exports, in particular small arms, which get low international concern and broad market prospect, have become the treasured tricks of military producers and manufacturers, achieving the effective integration of economic interests. Take Russia for example, the huge change of the post-Soviet society makes the national economy in a fragile state. In order to recover and promote the economy, bring the goods to the international market, arms exports have been burdened the loan. Hence, in the late1990s, Russia’s arms trade was expanding year after year, becoming a stable source of export and witnessing Russia’s national revival. Although the proportion of small arms in the total exports is not prominent, considering its low production cost and huge market potential, the government will unceasingly support the production and export of small arms, playing the role of propeller and accelerator. Africa is the hardest hit area by the proliferation of small arms. If we fail to restrain the armed violence and crime, the African people will be hopeless in building a better state and a better life; we find that the vast majority of small arms in the Africa come from other nations. Based on that, the arms supplier must take the responsibilities and obligations to prevent the global proliferation of small arms. Of course, the key lies in the production. Although the international black market, secondary trading, soldiers theft and theft looted military or police warehouse are the important channels of the proliferation of small arms, involving a huge amount of money, the weapons, after all, are from the supplier countries, which is undeniable.In conclusion, the international community should give priority to reducing guns violence, to strengthening and regulating export audit and control, and to extinguishing the fire of violence in the source.