Lecture Notes: Understanding the American Arms Trade

Introduction

• Discussion focused on the flow of American weapons worldwide.
• Objective: Explore how the U.S. projects its power globally via the arms trade.

Key Points

History and Introduction

• Part 2 of a series on the arms trade.
• Building on the history of businessmen profiting from war (Part 1).
• Data collected and mapped to show modern weapons flow.
• Visual Aid: Thick lines on the map indicate more weapons flow.
• Goal: Understand U.S. influence via arms trade.

Expert Insights

• Jeff Abson: Senior Fellow, Center for International Policy.
• Bill Har: Senior Research Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.
• Common Reasons for U.S. Arms Sales:
  • Promote peace and security (official reason).
  • Real strategic influence and control (real reason).
• Pentagon’s View: Selling arms stabilizes regions and helps allies defend themselves.

U.S. Arms Trade Overview

• Number of Countries: The U.S. sold major weapons to 103 countries.
• Agreement Terms: Countries must agree not to use weapons to violate human rights.
• Balance of Power: Countries arm themselves to deter conflict, avoiding escalation.

Theoretical Framework

Balance of Power in International Relations

• Concept: Countries avoid conflict by ensuring they have enough power to deter adversaries without provoking escalation.
• U.S. Sales Explanation: U.S. arms sales do not alter regional balance of power.

Mapping the Arms Trade

Visual Insights from the Map

• Observation: The U.S. has a massive global presence via arms sales.
• Map Interpretation: U.S. uses arms trade to gain influence and secure loyalty.
• Collaboration: With Sam Ellis, focused on understanding the motives and variations in U.S. arms sales.

Case Studies and Motives

• Saudi Arabia, Colombia: Analyzed different reasons for arms sales (stability, alliances, resources, etc.).
• Examples:
  • Saudi Arabia: Stability, alliance, rivalry with Iran, and oil.
  • Colombia: Security and counter-insurgency.

The Impact and Effectiveness

Does the Strategy Work?

• Mixed Results:
  • Positive: Strengthening alliances (e.g., Korea, Japan, Australia).
  • Negative: Poor influence over countries with conflicting agendas (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Israel).
• Saudi Arabia Case:
  • Violated human rights despite U.S. conditions on arms sales.
  • Congress tried to cut aid; vetoed by the president.
• Israel Case:
  • Continues to receive U.S. aid despite disagreements on conduct in conflicts.
  • Other examples: Philippines, Turkey.
• Historical Issues: Weapons often create long-term instability (e.g., Afghanistan, Libya).

Economic and Political Dimensions

• Military-Industrial Complex: Economic incentives drive arms production and sales.
• Conflict of Interests:
  • Lawmakers own shares in weapons companies.
  • Congressional districts benefit from arms manufacturing jobs.
• Weapons become tools to enrich private corporations.

Conclusions

• Historical context links to current practices and issues in the arms trade.
• Main Irony: Weapons marketed as stabilizing forces often contribute to long-term instability.
• Criticism and Scrutiny: Difficulty in proper oversight due to conflicts of interest.
• Emphasis on the need to scrutinize and potentially reform the arms trade system to ensure global safety and stability.

Final Remarks

• Call to Action: Encourage critical examination of the arms trade.
• Support and Resources: Mention of supporting independent journalism platforms like Nebula.
• Additional Content: Encouragement to watch related videos and support the creators involved.