Channels of small-arms proliferation: Policy implications for Asia-Pacific

Abstract

To develop effective policy to reduce the proliferation of illicit small arms in developing countries, it is necessary to have a good understanding of how these weapons are distributed and how illicit stockpiles are formed. This article captures structural characteristics of small-arms supply-chains and, in particular, stylizes the different mechanisms for funneling small arms to illicit users. The article draws on the experience of countries in South and Southeast Asia and of the Melanesian states of the Pacific. By focusing on the structural complexity of supply chains, the article highlights challenges that multichannel supply chains pose for governments in developing countries that seek to curb the flow of small arms into illicit stocks.