Third World Militarization: A Challenge To Third World Diplomacy; Armement-Developpement-Droits de l’Homme-Disarmement

The impact upon Third World countries of their often excessive spending on arms purchases was the subject of two unrelated conferences held in Austin, Texas, and in Paris in recent years. The papers and discussions of the first have been drawn together by its imaginative organizer, Jagat S. Mehta, former foreign secretary of India. His statement that the principal fault lies with the demanding arms recipients rather than with the weapons suppliers comes as a whiff of fresh air in an often stale and stereotyped debate. Professor Fischer's book deals not only with the relationship of armament to development but also to human rights. Both books have nuggets which scholars and policymakers could usefully mine.