ABSTRACT
The conclusion of voluntary disarmament agreements by states presupposes that at a certain point in time they were confident that an act of disarmament was in the interests of all parties, and that the mutual obligations of the treaty would be advantageous, both single and collectively. The balance of power may even be shifted between parties to an agreement. A disarmament agreement is more likely to be accepted as a permanent feature of national life if it is widely accepted, so that only a serious change in circumstances, such as preparations for war by other parties to a treaty, or open violations of the terms of a treaty, are likely to cause a change of heart. The process of decision-making leading to the conclusion of disarmament agreements varies enormously according to the socio-economic system. In the capitalist system it is the industrial interests and the institutions representing them which play a major role, followed by the military and scientific/technical circles.
