7' The arns race represents a waste of resources, a diversion of the economy awayfron ita humanitarian purposes, a hindrance to national deveropment efforts and athreat to denocratlc processes. But its nost inportant feature is that, in effect,it undernines national' regiohar and internationar security. rt ihvolves theconstant risk of war engaging the largest powers, includinl nuclear r,rar, and it isaccornpanied by an endless series of wars at lo er revels, rt raises an evergreater barrler against the developnent of an atnosphere in which the rore of forcein international relations nay be downgraded. rn aatarition, it impedes rerationsbett'een countries, affecting the vorume and direction of exchangei, dininlshi.ng therole of co-operaeion anrcng states and obstructing efforts tc,vJards establishing anew international econornic order on a more equitable basis. 8. Those are sorne of the nEjor characterlstics of the arms race analysed in thesecond report on the Economic and sociar consequences of the Arms Race and ofI'tilitarv s(penditures, "uUr riUingthe. arns race as a dynanic phenomenon affecting lhe social, pof iti-caf ,technological and industriar options of arl cointries, the tizz repori provideddenronstrable historicar. and ernpiricar evidence supporting a major concrusion of thefirst report on the subject, submitted to the ceneral Assenbty in 1971. l,/ warningthat the arms race nust be stopped not only b€cause of the innealiate peril it hordsfor everyone, but because, the longer it continues, the more intractalle theproblens of econonic growth, sociaL justice and environrnent will become, the l97lreport reconmended a reduction in military expenditures to pronote the goars of5.)c io-econonic deveropnent. !/ Fott, the lg71 and 1977 reports viewed the threat ofurtimate selftestr uct ion, resurting from a nuclear war, as the greatest perilfacing the worrd. Both enphasized the urgent need to recognize ind accept thateffective security cannot be achieved by further armaments.
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the impact of the arms race on the economy and international relations, highlighting its negative effects on economic development, national security, and global cooperation. It also touches on the consequences of the arms race on the environment and the risk of nuclear war. The text's focus on the economic and social consequences of the arms race suggests that it might belong to the categories related to economic development, international relations, and humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief