This
week has seen a suicide bomber kill people in Manchester, Jeremy
Corbyn state that UK foreign policy is implicit in and part of
creating terrorists, Theresa May condemn Corbyn for excusing
terrorists actions even though he never did, receiving an
announcement about a peace and conflict studies MA at Coventry
University, and this morning reading a story about an American
soldier in the Iraq war's struggle with despair and loneliness
(Arnold, 2002). My conclusion is that all who pursue the course of
violence as a solution to conflict or who build weapons to enable
violence are equally at fault. No government that has entered into a
war is innocent of killing and maiming innocent people who live in
these territories. They also send their young people to be killed in
wars that have little meaning other than in the power struggles of
the leaders.
A
quick search for possible statistics on the arms trade reveals the
following headlines: “Britain is now the second biggest arms dealer
in the world” (Stone, 5 September 2016), “UK weapons sales to
oppressive regimes to £3bn a year” (Doward, 28 May 2016), and
“America's arms exports dominate despite global competition”
(Soergel, 27 December 2016). The list of articles goes on but are
these based on accurate statistics? Few, look at the consequences of
this trade on world peace or the nations to which this weaponry is
sent.
The
search also uncovered the following statistical sources: The UK
government statistics on defence and security export for 2015, and UK
trade statistical bulletins. The trade statistics may hide some of
the military exports in other classifications such as the sales of
aircraft but for 2016, the sales of arms and ammunition was £884
million pounds out of a total export of £160 billion. Aircraft sales
was over £8 billion and I am assuming some of that is military
aircraft. The March 2017 statistics show similar trends. UK defence
and security export figures are available separately (see
references).
What
left me horrified was the apparent openness to accepting these
military sales as just another part of the export trade. Like all
trade, increased trade in defence and security is seen as good and
decline in trade is seen as bad despite the evidence of the misuse of
this equipment. It seems growth in the arms trade is desirable
regardless of the consequences.
If
I come back to the debate, I see the UK having a vested interest in
fostering violence in other parts of the world. It is good for UK
exports. The problem is the complete disconnect between this
fostering of violence elsewhere and the increase in violence at home.
It seems that it is alright for us to commit acts of violence on
foreign soil but not alright for those people to react back in
violence. That sounds like parents hitting their children to apply
discipline.
Our
acts of violence are not the only way that we show that violence is
the way to deal with international problems or that drive individuals
to feel not wanted or enabled in society. The government attitude of
penalising those already suffering (i.e. the unemployed, homeless,
and poor) also
adds to alienation and not feeling part of society. The message that we portray is that if you are
disadvantaged or suffering then expect to be accused of it being your
fault. There is no understanding of the implications of the reactions
of people when they are trapped and depressed. There is even less
awareness of the consequences of inequality on the quality of life
and cost structures of society.
We
need new ways of looking at international conflict and dealing with
inequality. Continually seeing it as the fault of the other person
doesn't heal the wounds and bring peace. This is where I see the
value of more emphasis on peace and conflict studies. Shouldn't we
spend as much or more in peace studies and peace-building as we do in
research on armaments. ways to destroy each other, and armament
construction?
As
I write this, I am wondering about whether I am prepared to take the
risk of losing my current income in order to learn more about
peace-building and how to apply it internationally and locally. This
seems to me were solutions to our current world crisis can be found
and not in the weapons of war.
Not
directly related but I don't see the current education system with
its focus on grades and employability delivering solutions to the
current crisis. Shouldn't education be working alongside people so
they develop the skills, thinking ability, and critical assessment
skills so that they can search out the evidence rather than simply
pull what someone else has said as a solution to the problem? Doesn't
this also start with relationship building or peace building and not
a judgemental system that is sole destroying to the participants.
References
Coventry University
(2017) MA Peace and Conflict Studies. Available from:
http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/trust-peace-social-relations/study-with-us/ma-peace-and-conflict-studies/
or
http://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/arts-and-humanities/postgraduate/peace-conflict-studies-ma/.
Johann Christoph Arnold
(2002) Escape Routes for people who feel trapped in life's hells.
Plough Publishing House.
Jon
Stone (5 September 2016) Britain is now the second biggest arms
dealer in the world. Independent, Available from:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-is-now-the-second-biggest-arms-dealer-in-the-world-a7225351.html.
Jamie
Doward (28 May 2016) UK weapons sales to oppressive regimes to £3bn
a year. The Guarden, Available from:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/28/uk-weapons-sold-countries-poor-human-rights-saudi-arabia.
Andrew
Soergel (27 December 2016) America's arms exports dominate despite
global competition. U.S. News, Available from:
https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-12-27/americas-arms-exports-dominate-despite-global-competition.
HM
Revenue & Customs (December 2016) UK overseas trade statistics.
Available from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-overseas-trade-statistics-december-2016
or
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/OverseasTradeStatistics/AboutOverseastradeStatistics/UnderstandingOTSData/Pages/UnderstandingOTSData.aspx
or
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-overseas-trade-statistics-and-regional-trade-statistics.
Department
of International Trade Defence and Security Organisation (26 July
2016) UK defence and security export figures. Available from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-defence-and-security-export-figures-2015.