othercountries findthreatening, thusprovoking reactive build-ups bythose countries, whichinturnstimulate further build-Ups bythecountries thatstarted theprocess. (Inpractice, itisusually impossible todetermine whichoftwo rivalcountries orgroups f1started"anarmsrace,sinceeachcountry orgroup generally isreacting simultaneously toanticipated threats fromtheother.) 410.TwOgeneral approaches havebeensuggested todealwiththedangers of continuing thearmsraceinthepresent manner. Oneisthatallcountries adopt onlydefensive ratherthanoffensive weaponsi.e.,weapons thatprotect acountry withinitsborders butcannotattackoutside thecountry. 16/Asecondissomehow toimposepenalties uponcountries thatexceed agivenamoU;tofmilitary spending" thUSadding anewcomponent totheircost-benefit calculation. However, agreeing touseeitheroftheseapproaches ortoadoptsomeformofbalanced reduction of existing offensive weapons willrequire greater mutualtrustandvisibility regarding theactions ofthecountries involved. Itisintheareaof "confidence-building" thatmuchmoreintensive workfordisarmament mustbedone, suchaspromotion ofmutualtrade,cultural exchange, priornotification of military exercises etc.(Seethecomprehensive studyoftheGroupofGovernmental Experts onConfidence-building Measures (A/36/474, annex) andA/39/348, paras.170-176.) 411.Oneofthepotential advantages oftheproposal thatcountries concentrate theirspending onlyondefensive armsisthatonecountry alonecouldtakethe initiative toshiftinthisdirection -without reducing itsownsecurity andat thesametimetending toreducethefearsandconsequent military build-ups ofany potential adversaries. Itisnotclearjustwhattypesofweapons ormulti-weapon systems wouldbeperceived asdefensive inthepresent nuclear context. Asystem thatonecountry intended aspurelydefensive mightwellprovoke apotential opponent toincrease itsoffensive system, especially iftheopponent wasunableto \develop anequally effective defence systeminashorttime.Moreover, ifa country increases spending ondefensive weapons systems butalsocontinues the I...A/40/5l9 English Page198 bUild-up ofweapons havingfirststrikecapability, itwillalmostcertainly start anewroundofthearmsraceandfurther undermine worldstability. Inaddition to negotiating forreduced totalnuclear arsenals andgreater stability (freedom from fearofafirststrike), thenuclear powersandallothercountries cancontribute totheworld's security byforgoing theacquisition ofconventional weapons, while concentrating onnon-threatening defensive measures andbyseeking toplayauseful roleforothercountries whileleftinpeace.!1/ NOtes--- ySee,inparticular, "Study ontherelationship between disarmament and development, reportoftheSecretary-General", 5OCtober 1981(A/36/356 and Corr.l), subsequently issuedwiththetitleTheRelationship between Disarmament andDevelopment (United Nations publication, SalesNO.E.82.IX.l), "Studyonthe economic andsocialconsequences ofthearmsraceandofmilitary expenditure" (A/37/386, annex), and"StudyonAllAspects oftheconventional ArmsRaceandon Disarmament relating toConventional Weapons andArmedForces (A/39/348, annex). IfWorldArmaments andDisarmament, SIPRIYearbook 1985(London and Philadelphia, Taylor andFrancis), table7A.l,p.270. 11 Source: VI-l,p.Totalofficial development assistance in1983wasabout$27.5billion. OECD,Development Co-operation, 1984Review, Paris,1984,tablesVI-land 82. ilWorldpublicexpenditure onpubliceducation in1982wasabout $627.7billion. SeeUNESCO Yearbook, 1984,table2.12,p.II-38. ifThegrowthrateofworldGDPwas1.7percentin1981,0.7percentin 1982and2.7percentin1983. SOurce, WorldEconomic Survey, 1985(United Nations publication, Sales No.E.85.II.C.l), table11-1. i/Jacques S.Gansler, Theoefense Industry (Cambridge, M.I.T.press,1980), PP.176and185. 21UNCTAD, TradeandDevelopment report, 1982(United Nations publication, Sales No.E.82.II.D.12), para.545. ~ISIPRIYearbook 1985,table10.1,pp.332-333. VM.Wionczek, "Theemergence ofmilitary industries intheSouth", in UNlDO,Industry andDevelopment; No.12,pp.115-120. 10/SIPRIYearbook 1981,p.7. !lISIPRIYearbook 1985,pp.345-346. 12/SIPRIYearbook 1983,table11.1,p.269;citedinA/39/348, fig.4. I ...A/40/5l9
**Analysis**
The text discusses the dangers of the arms race and proposes solutions to reduce military spending and promote disarmament. It also touches on the topic of economic development, mentioning the relationship between disarmament and development, and the consequences of the arms race on economic and social development.

**Category**
International relations, Industry