Realism versus Global Arms Control and Disarmament

This incisive book explores the limits of international law through arms control and disarmament treaties. Carmen Chas critically engages with literature on disarmament and classical realist analysis, bridging the divide between international law and international relations scholarship.

Drawing on the works of E. H. Carr, Hans J. Morgenthau, and Georg Schwarzenberger, Chas discusses the opportunities of international law when regulating political issues, shedding light on contemporary conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. The book analyses how legal restrictions and taboos around the trade and use of arms have disintegrated, providing insight into violations of international arms control and disarmament treaties. It examines the contrast in restrictions on conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction, arguing that the social effects of nuclear weapons innovation are irreversible. Ultimately, the book both confronts and deepens prevailing analyses of arms control and disarmament, rethinking ways we can approach international law.

A vital reference tool for students and academics in international politics and international law, Realism versus Global Arms Control and Disarmament will also greatly benefit policymakers and practitioners in international relations and the security sector.