The humanitarian framing of disarmament is not a novel development but a re-emergence of a long-standing sensibility of humanitarianism in disarmament. The book rejects the big bang theory that presents these treaties as a paradigm shift from a traditional state-centric approach to a more progressive humanitarian approach. It argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics and present humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and hegemonic leanings, which may silence other potentially more transformative discourses.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The humanitarian framing of disarmament is not a recent phenomenon but rather a re-emergence of a much older and long-standing sensibility of humanitarianism in disarmament. The Book challenges the big bang theory that presents the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention 1997, and its successors – the Convention on Cluster Munitions 2008, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 2017 – as a paradigm shift from an older traditional state-centric approach towards a more progressive humanitarian approach. It demonstrates how humanitarian disarmament has a long and complex history, which includes these treaties. This book argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses.

The Humanitarian Framing of Disarmament

The humanitarian framing of disarmament is not a novel development, but rather represents a re-emergence of a much older and long-standing sensibility of humanitarianism in disarmament. The Book rejects the "big bang" theory that presents the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention 1997, and its successors – the Convention on Cluster Munitions 2008, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 2017 – as a paradigm shift from an older traditional state-centric approach towards a more progressive humanitarian approach. It shows how humanitarian disarmament has a long and complex history, which includes these treaties. This book argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses.

The Big Bang Theory

The "big bang" theory that presents the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention 1997, and its successors – the Convention on Cluster Munitions 2008, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 2017 – as a paradigm shift from an older traditional state-centric approach towards a more progressive humanitarian approach is flawed. It fails to recognize the historical and political context in which these treaties were negotiated and ratified. The treaties were negotiated in the aftermath of the Cold War, when the international community was focused on disarmament and non-proliferation. The treaties were designed to address the humanitarian consequences of landmines, cluster munitions, and nuclear weapons, which had caused significant harm to civilians and civilian populations. The treaties were also designed to promote peace and security by reducing the risk of conflict and violence. However, the treaties were not without their critics. Some critics argued that the treaties were too restrictive and that they did not go far enough in addressing the humanitarian consequences of these weapons. Others argued that the treaties were too ambitious and that they would be difficult to implement. Despite these criticisms, the treaties have been widely ratified and have had a significant impact on the world. They have led to the destruction of millions of landmines, cluster munitions, and nuclear weapons, and have helped to reduce the risk of conflict and violence in many parts of the world. However, the treaties have also been criticized for their lack of enforcement. Many countries have not implemented the treaties fully, and some have even used these weapons in violation of the treaties. This has led to calls for stronger enforcement mechanisms and for the treaties to be updated to reflect changing circumstances. The Book argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses.

The Long and Complex History of Humanitarian Disarmament

Humanitarian disarmament has a long and complex history, which includes these treaties. The treaties were negotiated in the aftermath of the Cold War, when the international community was focused on disarmament and non-proliferation. The treaties were designed to address the humanitarian consequences of landmines, cluster munitions, and nuclear weapons, which had caused significant harm to civilians and civilian populations. The treaties were also designed to promote peace and security by reducing the risk of conflict and violence. However, the treaties were not without their critics. Some critics argued that the treaties were too restrictive and that they did not go far enough in addressing the humanitarian consequences of these weapons. Others argued that the treaties were too ambitious and that they would be difficult to implement. Despite these criticisms, the treaties have been widely ratified and have had a significant impact on the world. They have led to the destruction of millions of landmines, cluster munitions, and nuclear weapons, and have helped to reduce the risk of conflict and violence in many parts of the world. However, the treaties have also been criticized for their lack of enforcement. Many countries have not implemented the treaties fully, and some have even used these weapons in violation of the treaties. This has led to calls for stronger enforcement mechanisms and for the treaties to be updated to reflect changing circumstances. The Book argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses.

The Attempt to Locate the Birth of Humanitarian Disarmament in These Treaties

The attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses. For example, the Book argues that the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention 1997 was a response to the humanitarian crisis caused by landmines. However, the Convention did not address the root causes of the humanitarian crisis, such as poverty, inequality, and political instability. Instead, it focused on the use of landmines and the humanitarian consequences of their use. This approach may have been effective in reducing the number of landmine casualties, but it did not address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis. Similarly, the Convention on Cluster Munitions 2008 was a response to the humanitarian crisis caused by cluster munitions. However, the Convention did not address the root causes of the humanitarian crisis, such as the use of cluster munitions in civilian areas and the lack of accountability for their use. Instead, it focused on the use of cluster munitions and the humanitarian consequences of their use. This approach may have been effective in reducing the number of cluster munition casualties, but it did not address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 2017 was a response to the humanitarian crisis caused by nuclear weapons. However, the Treaty did not address the root causes of the humanitarian crisis, such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the lack of accountability for their use. Instead, it focused on the use of nuclear weapons and the humanitarian consequences of their use. This approach may have been effective in reducing the number of nuclear weapon casualties, but it did not address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis. The Book argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the humanitarian framing of disarmament is not a novel development, but rather represents a re-emergence of a much older and long-standing sensibility of humanitarianism in disarmament. The Book rejects the "big bang" theory that presents the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention 1997, and its successors – the Convention on Cluster Munitions 2008, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 2017 – as a paradigm shift from an older traditional state-centric approach towards a more progressive humanitarian approach. It demonstrates how humanitarian disarmament has a long and complex history, which includes these treaties. This book argues that the attempt to locate the birth of humanitarian disarmament in these treaties is part of the attempt to cleanse humanitarian disarmament of politics, presenting humanitarianism as a morally superior discourse in disarmament. However, humanitarianism carries its own blind spots and has its own hegemonic leanings. It may be silencing other potentially more transformative discourses.

Weight: 414g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108462969