Arms Control in Asia
This is a pioneering study of a neglected topic. Some of the authors contend that Asian governments have come to recognize the role of arms control in limiting the region's conflicts; others are skeptical. Gower Rizvi, in analyzing the India-Pakistan rivalry, observes that although the arms buildup on both sides has contributed to increasing tensions, negotiating an arms control agreement in the absence of a meaningful resolution of the political problems would be an exercise in futility. The same point might be made about the other regional rivalries discussed in the book. The essays are all of high quality, but there is an exceptionally perceptive and informative chapter by the editor, Gerald Segal, on Sino-Soviet military relations.
Sign-up for free weekly updates from ForeignAffairs.com.