II. SIPRI Yearbook 2010: highlights and findings

Chapter:

Introduction

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2010

Author(s):

Bates Gill

SIPRI Yearbook 2010 begins with a feature essay by one of the world’s foremost authorities on questions of arms control and disarmament, Ambassador James E. Goodby. In light of the increased attention now focused on these issues, his chapter provides a timely and insightful tour d’ horizon of the many near- and longer-term challenges and opportunities for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. The chapter examines both procedural and political issues of nuclear disarmament, and reviews and analyses such important issues as Russian–US bilateral arms reductions; future multilateral disarmament, global and regional agreements necessary to govern reductions and the elimination of nuclear weapons; and the role of deterrence in a world free of nuclear weapons. The chapter also provides a short history of US approaches to nuclear weapons and arms control to demonstrate how a country’s views can change over time to be more favourably disposed towards disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons.