Military capacity and the risk of war: China, India, Pakistan and Iran

Abstract

When does the legitimate application of military technology to the problem of national defence become needlessly provocative? What obstacles must developing countries overcome if they hope to use military technology effectively? And when might military technology itself become a cause of conflict? Eric Arnett addresses these questions in the context of four particularly important Asian states from the perspectives of regional specialists and experts in technology and military affairs. The resulting analyses demonstrate the link between military technology and conflict, which is more palpable in southern Asia than elsewhere, while suggesting that it must be approached in a more nuanced way than has been the case so far in discussions of the region. The author identifies specific technologies and perceptions that raise the risk of war in credible scenarios of conflict. The implications are germane to export control and arms transfer policies as well as arms control, confidence-building measures and other regional security arrangements.