Arms Trafficking Research Articles

Urban Peace-Building through Community-Based Initiatives to Control SALWs in Libya

In post-revolution Libya, the proliferation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) became pervasive due to the ongoing political and armed conflict that succeeded the fall of Qaddafi. The continuing state of insecurity and weakness of central state authorities has led local and community-based actors to develop their own peacebuilding initiatives, some of which included homegrown measures to control or reduce the proliferation of SALW. Drawing on insights collected in the cities of Az-Zāwiyah, Bayda, and Tobruk, this policy commentary discusses the mechanisms leading to the emergence of such initiatives, the methods of their implementation, and their strengths and weaknesses. Although these local initiatives did not result in building lasting and comprehensive peace at the national level, they offer a preliminary set of lessons learned that can help inform prospective peacebuilding and SALW control efforts in Libya. <strong>Arabic version:</strong> The Arabic version of this article is available and can be downloaded at <a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/jied.57.s1" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.31389/jied.57.s1</a>

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ И МЕРЫ ПО ПРОФИЛАКТИКЕ НЕЗАКОННОГО ОБОРОТА ОРУЖИЯ (БОЕПРИПАСОВ) НА ОСНОВЕ КРАТКОГО АНАЛИЗА ОПРОСА ОСУЖДЕННЫХ ЛИЦ

The article discusses the issues of illegal circulation of weapons, explosives and explosive devices, including the specifics of legislation in different countries. The role of law enforcement agencies in the sphere of legal and illegal arms trafficking is considered. The article notes the lack of a unified systematic approach of the authorities. The rate of development of technologies contributing to the illegal circulation of weapons is described. The article also reflects the peculiarities of responsibility for acts with weapons, ammunition or explosives, and sets out the results of a survey of convicted persons, puts forward proposals for improving legislation in this area. The purpose of the article is to consider the current state of the work of law enforcement agencies in the field of countering the illegal circulation of weapons, explosives and the development of proposals for improving legislation in this area.

CURRENT STATE OF ORGANIZED CRIME AND COMBATING IT ON THE TERRITORY OF UKRAINE

The article states that given the complex nature of organized crime, the complex security environment around Ukraine and the criminogenic situation, the organization of a systematic fight against organized crime should become one of the priorities of public policy and requires effective interdepartmental measures and deepening law enforcement cooperation. It was found that organized crime in Ukraine is steadily developing and structuring, involving representatives of state authorities, local governments, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, etc. in this process. The current state of organized crime threatens the national security and integrity of the state, which requires urgent administrative and legal measures to combat it. The fight against organized crime is not an isolated problem, to which there is now a simplified attitude to the inconsistent actions of individual actors, but a complex, complex administrative and legal mechanism that needs a strategic solution. The author analyzes the spread of organized crime by region of Ukraine during 2014–2018. Thus, in 2014 the most organized groups were found in Kyiv (14), Odessa (12), Kharkiv (10) Donetsk (9), Luhansk, Poltava, Chernivtsi regions (8 each), the least in Kyiv and Kherson regions (3 each). The author notes that high organization, the acquisition of transnational ties, in a certain inertia of national law, turns modern organized crime into a global threat to the world and international law and creates obstacles to socio-economic progress. The author argues that organized crime is the most complex and dangerous anti-social phenomenon, which is not limited to state borders. Today it poses a real threat to the state and society, manifested in the invasion of politics, economics, social, security, banking, financial and credit, law enforcement, privatization, investment, nature and other vital areas of the state, creating shadow criminal schemes in them.; establishing control over customs authorities; interference in the development of market relations; blocking effective reform processes in the state; organization of criminal activity in such areas as: drug trafficking, prostitution, gambling, illegal arms trafficking, theft and smuggling of vehicles, illegal migration, human trafficking, human organ transplantation; merging with international crime, creation of international organized transnational criminal organizations, etc.

Перспективы и проблемы использования морских частных военных компаний “нового облика” в Восточной Африке

In recent decades, some researchers and experts have written a lot about the fact that the monopoly of nation-states on external violence is gradually disappearing, and non-state entities are becoming more and more proactive, challenging the state. Among these actors are criminal groups, underground trade networks, smugglers, slave traders, drug traffickers, gun runners, terrorist groups, pirates. All of them pose so-called non-traditional threats and challenges to states. In the context of the new Cold War, their activities are intensifying. This article is devoted to the analysis of the situation in the coastal waters of East Africa, one of the so-called gray zones, where non-state shadow actors are especially active. The authors investigate the capabilities of the East African states to withstand non-traditional maritime challenges and threats and come to the conclusion that these states are unable to cope on their own. The great powers, on the other hand, are focused on confronting each other and have no capacity to divert forces for operations to maintain order in distant regions. The authors believe that in these conditions, Russia is faced with new opportunities: it can create and send to the region private maritime security companies of a new type, New Order PMSC, which will be financed through a contract with the client state and at the same time will help to strengthen Russia's influence. Unlike ordinary PMSCs, they are not interested in dragging out the conflict, their goal is to eliminate hotbeds of danger and prepare the coast guard forces of client states to deal with potential threats. The activities of these companies will be equally beneficial to the states of East Africa and Russia. The authors propose an approximate composition of such PMSCs, outline the goals and objectives they face, and make certain that with the help of relatively low costs, Russia can improve the effectiveness of its policy in the region.

Методика преподавания огневой подготовки: адаптация к условиям профессиональной деятельности

The ability to shoot for future law enforcement officers is an important and competitively oriented skill for entering, building a career in the law enforcement system, since weapon training is part of the professionally applied combat and physical training of employees of state de-partmental structures. Training and improvement of shooting skills is carried out within the framework of conducting weapon training classes. We consider the methods of teaching weapon training for students of specialty 40.05.01 “Legal Support of National Security” on the basis of a civil university – Derzhavin Tambov State University. A weapon training session is the foundation that lays both primary shooting skills and, subsequently, a platform for improving and honing skills. Most of the weapon training classes are not theoretical, but practical. The main methods of teaching both theoretical and practical lessons in weapon training are considered. However, the existing methods of teaching and learning shooting skills does not meet modern practical challenges. Currently, practical exercises for conducting weapon training classes, which are regulated and recommended by the relevant regulatory legal acts (not only general methodic recommendations for training students in civilian universities, but also orders and instructions from specialized educational institutions of law enforcement agencies) do not correspond to the real conditions and situations of the use of firearms. In particular, it is worth considering the fact that calm and quiet conditions for firing a shot are only opportunities in a practical lesson. In real life, weapons have to be used in extreme situations and in conditions of a difficult mental state. In this regard, there is a methodic adaptation of the teaching of the discipline of weapon training to the modern practical realities of the trafficking and use of weapons.

ANITA's text analysis services for fighting online illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and false charity claims: A lateral thinking approach

ANITA platform aims at improving investigation capabilities of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) by delivering a set of tools and techniques to efficiently address online illegal trafficking of counterfeit/falsified medicines, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), drugs, and weapons with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Expert.ai has developed a dedicated written content analysis engine to support investigative activity. The market already offers several solutions adopting AI and in particular Machine Learning (ML) to support investigative activities. The particularity of the work carried out in the ANITA project is to adopt a lateral thinking approach and the supervised generation of knowledge from the analysed contents. Rather than focusing on searching for specific proper names of substances, weapons, NPS, etc. that are constantly evolving in considerable speed, we propose to concentrate on searching for precursors, namely collateral concepts related with the target of the investigation. Is the case of accessories for weapons such as sights for rifles or glass vessels used to produce the drugs themselves? This approach is not compatible with the use of ML, but the use of deep semantic analysis of the text is necessary. This article reports the system's ability to automatically identify precursors and generate stimuli and knowledge which the investigator must validate; that enhances the creative and intuitive approach (serendipity) to investigation combining the best of the detective's skills with the power of AI and in particular Natural Language Understanding (NLU).

Pandemic as an additional criminality factor

The prerequisite for the study was the emerging new “coronavirus” disease, viewed as a criminality factor. The objective of the study is to identify new characteristics of crime in the context of the incidence of coronavirus in the population, to identify its highly latent types, to reflect the dynamics. The following methods were used to achieve the objective: analysis, synthesis, generalization, statistical method, content analysis, method of expert assessments. The results of the work were the revealed patterns of crime in the sphere of illegal circulation of drugs, weapons, and domestic violence. The novelty is the identification of highly latent types of crime during a pandemic and its characteristic features. Issues related to the prevention of domestic violence during a pandemic with the participation of law enforcement agencies and guardianship authorities in this work were considered. The draft laws “On responsibility for domestic violence” and “On restricting the removal of children from the family” were discussed, recommendations for their improvement were provided. Attention is focused on the practicability of strengthening preventive measures in the fight against domestic violence to preserve families and ensure the interests of children. An increase in the number of drug crimes was revealed during the pandemic, both in Russia and abroad. The Russian drug market is experiencing a shortage of smuggled drugs. It is reoriented to synthetic drugs with new underground drug laboratories being opened. The main contingent of attraction to drug use is still young people and adolescents, the main method – using Internet technologies. The increase in the number of crimes in the sphere of illegal arms trafficking was provoked by the factor of fear, due to the presence of the threat of becoming a victim of selfish and violent crimes. The consequence is consumer panic and an increase in the need of the Russian population for self-defense.

Turkish-Arab Confrontation in the Hijaz and Nejd and Russia in Early 20th Century (According to Russian Diplomatic and Military Intelligence Sources)

Through the lens of its analysis, the article reveals the most entangled relationships, reaching the highest degree of tension at times, between the Turkish authorities and the Arab people inhabiting two regions of the Arabian Peninsula, incorporated into the Ottoman Empire – the Hejaz (West Arabia) and Najd (Central Arabia) – in the late 19th – early 20th centuries. It also sheds light on the activities undertaken by the Russian diplomats and military intelligence officers seeking to establish more details about the situation in those regions. The article is primarily based on a body of little-known documents stored in the records of the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire and Russian State Military-Historical Archive, as well as some archives outside Russia. It is shown that within the period in question, both the Bedouin tribes and the urban notables rose in rebellions against the Turkish stranglehold, that were suppressed with military force. The Turkish-Arab relationships, especially the Turkish military expeditions into the Arabian regions, were the focus of intense interest of the Russian diplomacy, as well as military intelligence, given the possibility of an armed conflict between Russia and Turkey. Staff members of the Russian consulate in Jeddah, founded in 1890, who were entrusted with the task of gaining knowledge on the use of pilgrimage by the Turkish authorities to influence the Russian Muslims who arrived in the Hejaz, were exposed to dangers that threatened their lives and health. They assessed the British policy in these areas as aimed at destabilizing the situation, given the smuggling of arms destined for the local tribes. The author also looks at the way how the difference in visions and preferences among the high-ranking Russian officials, in charge of various departments within the Russian Empire, impacted the Russian policies in the area.

Method Commission of Illegal Manufacture, Processing or Repair of Firearms or Fraud Unlawful Removal or Changes its Labeling or Illicit Manufacture of Ammunition, Explosives or Explosive Devices

The purpose of the scientific article is to find out ways to commit the illegal manufacture, processing or repair of firearms or falsification, illegal removal or alteration of their markings, or illegal manufacture of ammunition, explosives or explosive devices. The methodological basis of scientific research is a set of methods and techniques of scientific knowledge necessary to achieve a specific goal, the specifics of the object and subject of research. The use of methods ensured the validity and reliability of the research results. The leading method of research is dialectical, with the help of laws and categories which determine the methods of illegal manufacture, processing or repair of firearms or falsification, illegal removal or alteration of its markings, or illegal manufacture of ammunition, explosives or explosive devices. Special research methods were also used, namely: method of system analysis, system-structural, formal-logical, sociological and statistical. The scientific novelty of the publication is as follows: it is established that the main ways of committing the crime under investigation are active actions against firearms, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices: manufacture (for all weapons specified in Article 263-1 of the Criminal Code); reworking, removal of markings, change of markings (only for firearms); most ways of committing crimes are fully structured (have stages of preparation, commission and concealment); actions covered by the features of the crime are often a separate link in the chain of detailed criminal activities related to the illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices; the expediency of the definition in Art. 263-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine of criminal liability for illegal processing of ammunition. Conclusions. Most ways of committing crimes under Art. 263-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, are fully structured, i.e. have stages: a) preparation: the choice of premises; preparation of necessary materials, devices, tools; use of publicly available information in open sources on manufacturing, making constructive changes in weapons; purchase of tools, metalworking devices; visits to facilities related to their production, storage and use; purposeful survey of military conflict zones; b) committing and c) concealment: non-appearance on call; giving false testimony; refusal to testify; putting forward a false alibi; destruction of traces and tools of crime; influencing witnesses. In addition to the established, typical ways of committing crimes under Art. 263-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, identified trends to improve, modernize methods of illegal manufacture, processing or repair of weapons: high-tech processing, manufacturing using modern technical means; use of reference information, purchase of separate constructive mechanisms, details to armaments through the Internet sites; application of masking agents. Actions covered by the signs of a crime under Art. 263-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, is often a separate link in the chain of detailed planned criminal activities related to the illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices

On the issue of improving the legal regulation of police participationin the control of arms trafficking

On the issue of improving the legal regulation of police participationin the control of arms trafficking

СУДОВО-БАЛІСТИЧНЕ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ НАРІЗНОЇ МИСЛИВСЬКОЇ ВОГНЕПАЛЬНОЇ ЗБРОЇ В УКРАЇНІ...: ШЛЯХИ ВДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ НОРМАТИВНОГО РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ

The article considers the problematic issues of circulation in the country of rifled hunting weapons as the only type of rifled firearms allowed for possession and storage at the place of residence of all categories of citizens of Ukraine who have reached a certain age and have no criminal record or medical contraindications. The normative documents which, in the absence of the corresponding Law, regulate the order of circulation of civilian firearms in the state are analyzed. Forensic features of hunting firearms are formulated and it is concluded that a significant number of samples of weapons sold on the territory of Ukraine as hunting weapons do not correspond to them. Citing specific examples from his own expert practice, the author argues that due to the lack of effective legal regulation of arms trafficking in the state, in fact, it is impossible to define a clear line between hunting weapons that are allowed to possess and store at the owner’s residence and other weapons (combat, sports, multi-purpose, self-defense, etc.), the civil circulation of which is prohibited or restricted in Ukraine. Based on the experimental shooting, it is proved that some samples of registered hunting firearms intended for firing with 9x21 IMI pistol cartridges do not provide guaranteed damage to animals and birds during hunting due to low rates of fire. It is concluded that the current standards governing the requirements for rifled firearms and ammunition are imperfect and contain technical and logical inconsistencies with other regulations, and therefore need to be revised. The article also proposes ways to improve the regulatory framework for the circulation of rifled hunting firearms in the country in compliance with the requirements of legislation and policy documents on the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the legislation of the European Union.

Cooperation between the United States and Mexico in combating illicit arms trafficking

The article is devoted to the illicit arms trafficking issue between Mexico and the United States. The paper presents a retrospective analysis for finding the roots of the current situation. Author analyses the policy decisions in both countries, their authorities’ approaches for resolving illicit arms trafficking at different times. Assessment is carried out on the prospects of a two-state dialogue between the U.S. and Mexico on this issue.

The Anglophone Crisis: The Rise of Arms Trafficking and Smuggling, its Effects on the Two English Regions of Cameroon

The union between the English and French-speaking regions of Cameroon has exploded into a violent crisis, questioning the legitimacy of the central government of the country. The main objective of this study is to explore the causes of the Anglophone crisis, to analyze the rise of arms trafficking and its effects on the two English regions of Cameroon. The conflict theory is used as a model of analysis in expatiating the issue of arms trafficking and its effects on the two English regions of Cameroon. This sociological analysis, defines the area of study, bad governance, hardship, and extreme poverty as the main causes of arms trafficking in two English regions. This study also brings to lights: 1) The link between the Anglophone crisis and the rise of arms trafficking and its effects, 2) The rise of arms trafficking and the socio-economic impact of the crisis. The Anglophone crisis, the rise of arms trafficking in the two English regions of Cameroon is a call for concern.

The Impact of CPEC on Regional Politics around Durand Line

The Purpose of this Research is to explore the impact of CPEC on Regional Politics around Durand Line while establishing links of such influences with socio economic history of this region. The research effort shall also help to identify avenues and opportunities for Afghanistan and Pakistan in accepting the Durand Line as an International Border. It is a fact that despite being neighbors with socio-cultural and ethnic alignments, the two countries have experienced strain in relations during seven decades of coexistence. Political stability has never been good in the region because of weak administrative control on this border. Optically, Durand Line has been the main reason. Unaccounted movement of refugees, tax evaded businesses and trade, cross border tribal influences, human trafficking, illegal manufacturing and exchange of arms and ammunition kept the region under turmoil. Security situation all around Pakistan Afghanistan Border remained a question mark. The last One decade has been a decade of realization. The post 9/11 attacks in New York and US War on Terrorism paved way for re-identifying legitimacy and acceptance of the Durand Line. And then the China Pakistan Economic Corridor played a defining role in re-affirmation of Durand Line. Security situation and controls needed to be improved before crafting such huge BRI Investments by China. Governments in Pakistan & Afghanistan have begun to feel that clarity on Durand line will resolve half of their security issues if not all. Pakistan started putting up physical barriers all along, the Durand Line. Afghanistan’s Military responded with equi-controls. About 10-15% of the border belt areas resisted to this call. But Pakistan’s Resolve continues to strengthen the border. This is leading to an increased control and acceptance of the Durand Line. For US these enhanced controls would lead to segregation of Afghan extremists from some of the Tribal Radicals of Pakistan, ultimately weakening their opposition in Afghanistan. The government in Kabul has also been demanding non-interference from Pakistani Tribal Areas. For China strengthening Durand Line means security of CPEC. All these developments put together create an opportunity for both Afghanistan and Pakistan to increase cordiality with each other. This research effort can draw the attention of experts not only on both sides of this border but other states as well supporting the demarcation drive of the Durand Line. Moreover it will also enlighten about the likely repercussions for regional players in case of non-acceptance of the Durand Line.

�������� ������ ��������� ���� �������������� ��������� �������������� � ����� ���������� �������� ���������� �������

This article concerns on forms of international procedural cooperation of Republic of Moldova as an actual modern problem. It has been noted that scale of organized crime, terrorism, illegal drug and arms trafficking, illegal migration, human trafficking and other crimes compel different states to unify their efforts in counteracting these crossborder phenomena by creating organizational mechanisms of interaction. International legal aspects of crime counteraction, in particular the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Additional Protocols to it have been studied. It has been specified that foreign countries legislation uses most advanced mechanisms of mutual legal assistance for a long time, but institute of joint search groups is a relatively new form for criminal procedural legislation of Republic of Moldova. An attention to amendments to criminal procedural legislation concerning implementation of the institute of joint search groups has been devoted. It has been acknowledged that according to legislation of Republic of Moldova a request on forming of joint search group could be sent by any engaged state. Such group is to be created in any state where criminal persecution needs to be enforced. There is certain information to be included in such request: law enforcement body which requested, the request�s subject and grounds, data on persecuted person and his full name, nationality, address, if necessary � suggestions on group membership. Signing of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe by Moldova facilitated implementation of cross-border surveillance institute which comprises procedural action to be conducted when representatives of one country�s law enforcement body are keeping under surveillance during criminal persecution in another country a person, suspected in participation of the crime which envisaged extradition, or a person who is reasonably believed to be helpful in identification or establishing whereabouts of the aforementioned person, and has the right to continue such surveillance in Republic of Moldova according to legal assistance request submitted previously. It has been substantiated that international cooperation in crime combating is based on legal assistance providing and aimed at expansion of the quantity of countries which are contracting parties of such cooperation agreements.

Peaceful Borders and Illicit Transnational Flows in the Americas

This article introduces an analytical framework to explain the coexistence of peaceful borders and illicit transnational flows as evidenced by drug trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling, weapons trafficking, and terrorism in the Americas, a region characterized by international peace, domestic peace, and regional integration. Under the assumption that peaceful relations among neighboring countries enable the incursion of transnational nonstate actors across their borders, the article poses this main question: Under which conditions might peaceful borders enable illicit transnational flows? There is much more variance in the incidence of these illicit transnational flows across borders than in the existence of international peace. The article examines two major variables: the degree of governance and institutional strength of the bordering states; and the prevalent socioeconomic conditions of the bordering states.

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Transnational Crime in Africa

This paper analyses the role of the arms trade in the growth and spread of transnational crime in Africa. The work shows that the proliferation and ready availability of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) on the continent is contributing in no small measure to political, economic and social insecurity in Africa. Major transnational crimes that the work identifies in Africa include drug trafficking, human and people trafficking, environmental crimes, arms trafficking and stolen vehicle trafficking. The work uses qualitative research methodology, which involves the extensive collection, collation and analysis of secondary data, to capture the essence and scope of the impacts of SALW on the growth and spread of transnational crime on the continent. A major and significant contribution of the work is the crucial connection that it establishes between the proliferation of SALW and the high incidence and recurrence of transnational crime in Africa. The work shows the destabilizing impacts of the proliferation of SALW in Africa and how these is contributing to the recurrence of conflicts and criminal activities on the continent. In its conclusion, the work recommends that in order for states on the continent to be able to proactively tackle transnational crime and the proliferation of SALW, they will have to do the following: carry-out an extensive and critical survey to create a database that will identify the nature of the different transnational crime that is carried-out in each regions; create (where it does not exist) and, strengthen and implement (where it exist) legislations and laws designed to tackle transnational crime; and encourage interagency cooperation and coordination among the affected states in the regions.

The lagged effect of state gun laws on the reduction of state-level firearm homicide mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2017

ObjectivesGun violence is a pressing concern in the United States, where many laws targeting gun violence vary across states and localities. Studies have investigated the association between gun laws and gun violence, but not many focus on the role of time, which is critical for implementation. This study aims to determine the lagged association of gun laws with firearm homicide mortality to better understand the impacts of state gun laws over time. Study designThe design of this study is a longitudinal study. MethodsThis study applied the distributed lag non-linear model to assess the lagged association between firearm homicide mortality and the number of gun law provisions at the state level from 1999 to 2017. State gun law provisions were analyzed in aggregate and also across five groups of regulations. All estimates were transformed into relative risks (RRs). ResultsRegarding all state gun laws, regardless of how many gun law provisions were on the books in any year, a significantly reduced RR of firearm homicide mortality was not observed until 7 years later. Among the five regulation groups, a significant RR less than 1 was more likely to happen in longer lags ≥5. The lowest significant RR = 0.24 (95% confidence interval = 0.15, 0.39) was observed in the gun types, components, and trafficking group at lag 8. All regulation groups had an overall impact to reduce significantly the RR of firearm homicide mortality with more gun law provisions, except for the dealer regulation group. ConclusionsState gun law provisions appear to impact firearm homicide mortality differently over time. This emphasizes the centrality of enforcement. Firearm policy researchers need to consider how specific gun laws are implemented over time to help inform law-based interventions.

The Supply of Small Arms and Light Weapons to Conflict Zones: The Bane of Onset, Intensity and Duration of Armed Conflict in Africa

Small arms fuel violence and intensify human suffering in conflict situations across the globe. The illicit trafficking, proliferation and misuse of small arms have grave impacts on human security, development and human rights. They hamper conflict resolution, peace-building and commercial activities in various parts of the world, affecting the lives of millions. In recent years, attention has come to focus on the ways in which the increased availability of low-cost small arms and light weapons contributes to the likelihood, intensity and duration of armed conflict. This paper has examined the full range of sources of small arms in Africa region. It recognizes the importance of large international transfers in weapons sourcing to conflict zones; at the same time, however, it reinforces lesser-known findings regarding the role of production, government stockpiles, and the so-called ant trade in the fuelling conflict. For more emphasis, the paper is anchored on the combination of three different theories; the theory of relative autonomy of state, conflict theory and failed state theory. In developing a more comprehensive approach to conflict sourcing, the role of politics must not be overlooked. Small arms proliferation is essentially a political issue, as the politically motivated leakages from military stockpiles and state-sponsored transfers in the region. The paper further reveled that government stockpiles is an important source of weapons in many conflict zones, through corruption, theft, seizure, distribution, and sales. In some conflicts, they are even the main source of small arms for all combatants. As observed, in the long run, persistent smaller shipments of small arms can be more significant in terms of volume than occasional large-scale trafficking of guns. Where the ant trade is important, policy responses become more complicated. Therefore, to control brokering, streamlining end-user certificates, and establishing arms embargoes, an effective policy also needs to tackle corruption and make the control of border regions and of the border itself more effective. In addition, policies must be tailored to individual states. While regional and international approaches are useful, their limitations must also be clearly understood. Keywords : Small Arms, Light Weapons, Proliferation, Arms supply, Armed Conflict, Africa DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/88-01 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

Методичний підхід до визначення пріоритетності важливих об’єктів в зоні територіальної оборони, охорона та оборона яких покладається на формування територіальної оборони держави

Сучасний стан воєнно-політичної обстановки довкола України свідчать про наявність значного обсягу викликів різного характеру, до нашої країни, які надходять як зі сторони держав, які мають спільні з нами сухопутні та морські кордони, так і впливових воєнно-політичних та економічних країн і організацій (Сполучені Штати Америки, Північноатлантичний Альянс і Європейський союз), інтереси яких об’єктивно присутні в регіоні. В середині України такі суперечності відобразились територіальними претензіями зі сторони Російської Федерації, розпалюванням релігійних та етнічних суперечностей серед населення, що в свою чергу призвело до виникнення збройного конфлікту та, як наслідок, активної діяльності незаконних збройних формувань в окремих районах Донецької та Луганської областей. Водночас, серйозну загрозу становить активізація тероризму, незаконна торгівля зброєю, наркотичними речовинами, організована злочинність, тощо. Значне зростання таких загроз в Україні викликає необхідність розвивати підходи до забезпечення безпеки держави. Зважаючи на тенденції розвитку воєнних конфліктів сучасності, реалізації завдання забезпечення безпеки від зазначених загроз по праву належить територіальній обороні. Необхідність досліджень питань організації та ведення територіальної оборони України, пов’язана з відносно невеликою кількістю наукових праць з цієї проблематики, метою яких би було сформувати методичні підходи до визначення пріоритетності важливих об’єктів і комунікацій зони територіальної оборони, охорону та оборону яких здійснюють військові частини (підрозділи) територіальної оборони Збройних Сил України в особливий період з метою забезпечення їх надійного функціонування, задля забезпечення потреб населення та функціонування економіки країни.