ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the policy and ethical dilemmas of trying to find alternatives to armament and ask which of the dilemmas of armament in world politics can be solved. The dilemma of access entails uncertainty about the effect of trying to eliminate arms. It extends to international relations in questions about the wisdom of arming or forcefully disarming a Saddam Hussein or Somali "warlords" and of building a UN or multilateral police force able to assure individual states and citizens of their rights and security. It is necessary to determine how and why the international trade and exchange of arms take place, including the history both of arms developments and arms limitation efforts. Despite arms control intentions local wars continue to boil, and particular arms suppliers continue to support their clients. The dilemma of alternatives means that finding alternatives to armament to promote security or trade can be difficult, a mainly economic dilemma facing those interested in disarmament or peace.
