Arms control, civil war and peace settlements
Arms control has undoubtedly a role to play in conflict resolution. It can enhance stability through deterrence in the case of settlements based on partition, or it can support the military transformation process for national reconciliation. The problem with arms control in conflict resolution is that there neither exists conceptual clarity‐especially in relation to classical arms control‐nor has norm‐building in this area been very successful. Moreover, the short life cycles of most post‐conflict arms control arrangements raise questions about sustainability. This study argues that these deficiencies could be effectively addressed by embracing ‘generic best practices’ and by strengthening the interface of peace implementation with multilateral frameworks of politico‐military cooperation.