Resources - vrhether they be naeural (fuel and non-fue1 minerals and raw nlaterials), hunan (labour), and material (capital and technol-ogy) - are unevenly distributeil anpng states, and these states vary widely in their technological capabllities to overcone the physical constraints on resources. To the extent that political considerations related to the arns race constitute an obstacle in an international interchange of unevenly distributed resourcesr the arms race certainly narrows down the global opportunities for socio-conomic developnent throught the nost productive utilization of, its fa r-from-i nf in ite resources- 56. Resources used for military purposes compe te for resources which could have been otherwise available for socio-econonic develolment. They also affect priorities in the allocation of resources not clained directly. They aggravate the conflict situations related to resource constraints. And they carry the non-negligible risk of creating conflict situations nhich by thensleves nay becone a factor in further escalations of the arns race, making additional clains on resources. In all these respects, purely financial outlays do not Provide an adeguate picture of the xnagnitude of the human and naterlal resources consumed by the arms race. Nor do they sufficiently indicate the range of oPtions r*r lch would be available if only a part of the resources ctained by the arms race were diverted to non-military Purposes. 57. rn characterizing the arfts race as a rnajor factor in narrowing bhe global socio-econonic options, this chaPter describes the Present day utitization of resources for nilitary purposesi it also indicates the nature and range of options affecteal by the arms race in alefining the geographic and technological linits on resource constraints. FinaUy, ib stresses the dangers of resource-related conflict situations that leaal to a further escalation of the arms race, naking additional claims on resources.
**Analysis**
The text discusses the impact of the arms race on the availability of resources, highlighting the competition between military and non-military uses, and the consequences of this competition on global socio-economic development. The text also touches on the geographical and technological constraints on resource distribution, and the potential for resource-related conflict situations. Given the focus on the arms race and its effects on resource allocation, it is likely that the text belongs to a category that encompasses economic and environmental issues.

**Category**
Economic development, Natural resources and environment