The Relationship Between Disarmament And Development

This report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development was submitted to the Secretary-General in pursuance of paragraphs 94 and 95 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly contained in resolution S-10/2 of 30 June 1978.

This report provides a reappraisal of the disarmament-development relationship and the role of the Organization. It makes numerous recommendations and includes specific areas for further research by specialized United Nations bodies and non-governmental organizations in order to enhance understanding of this topic.

The escalating arms race and increasing pressure for Third World development have created an intensifying competition for scarce resources. The escalation of the arms race has resulted in slower and more uneven economic growth and development. The disappointing history of disarmament efforts and the unsatisfactory results in establishing a new international economic order underlie the reluctance to perceive a viable relationship between development and disarmament. The seventeen articles in part one of this volume focus on some of the major problems faced by Third World countries, the policy issues posed by the competition between disarmament and development, and offer some guidelines for international disarmament policies.

This paper reviews the origins of disarmament-development advocacy, examines some of the efforts to establish a link, including UN studies, and reviews the debate at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development. This look at the 1987 UN Conference reveals the various national points of view about this relationship, and provides a window on the larger international tensions that are at the root of much of international relations today. The examination ends with a look at Canada's position in the debate.