This book, first published in 1983, is a result of the UN 1978-81 study on the relationship between disarmament and development. It analyses the disruptive, retarding and weakening effects of large-scale military preparations on the economic and social fabric of societies around the world and the benefits of disarmament.

Part 1. The Study of Armament, Disarmament and Development 1. Armaments and Development Ron Huisken 2. Linking Disarmament and Development: Some Ideas from a United Nations Research Project Bo Hovstadius and Manne Wängborg 3. Defence and Development: a Critique of the Benoit Study Nicole Ball Part 2. Militarization and Arms Production in Industrialized Countries 4. Economic Problems of Arms Production in Western Europe – Diagnoses and Alternatives Michael Brzoska 5. Arms Buildup and Disarmament – Effects on Manpower Situations in Countries of Different Social Systems Klaus Engelhardt 6. Efforts at Reducing Military Expenditure in the United States, 1960 to 1978 Milton Leitenberg 7. Opening the Floodgates: the New US Arms Sales Policy Michael T. Klare 8. Transnational Military Corporations: the Main Problems Helena Tuomi Part 3. Militarization and Armament Process in Developing Countries 9. Semiperipheral Countries in the Global Economic and Military Order Raimo Väyrynen 10. The Transfer of Military Technology to Third World Countries Signe Landgren-Bäckstöm 11. Brazil’s Nuclear Energy Policy: Dilemmas and Options Clóvis Brigagao Part 4. Alternative Perspectives 12. The Economic Effects of Conversion: a Case Study of Norway Nils Petter Gleditsch, Olav Bjerkholt, Ådne Cappelen and Knut Moum 13. Conventional Disarmament – a Legal Framework and Some Perspectives Allan Rosas Part 5. Discussion 14. Is the Conversion Idea to be Converted? Some Sceptical Comments from a Non-Convert Jan Øberg