European arms control in crisis – understanding the sources, Russian position and future prospects

Kostić Šulejić, Marina and Stefanović, Andrej (2023) European arms control in crisis – understanding the sources, Russian position and future prospects. In: Eurasian Security After NATO. Institute of International Politics and Economics; Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Belgrade; Moscow, pp. 285-314. ISBN 978-86-7067-317-5

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Abstract

The paper presents the research on the sources of the crisis and the future prospects for European arms control, taking into account the Russian position on this matter. The crisis of European arms control is approached through the concept of systemic international crises, with the authors claiming that the crisis of arms control in Europe is the result of two-fold crises – one of strategic stability and the other of European security architecture. It also uses a constructivist assumption on the importance of a learning process and perception of threats and causes of crisis, as well as of identities and interests of main actors, the ways they communicate and understand them, and interact in order to create mutually acceptable solutions or resolution of conflicts. The article concludes that if key states of international order do not want to end up in turmoil, chaos, or war, they have to find proper mechanisms for the management of their fears, where arms control proves to be the best option. The build-up of a new arms control architecture in Europe must start with the settlements of the issues of NATO enlargement and territorial integrity of all European states, be followed by strong confidence and security building measures (CSBMs) and negotiations on de-escalation in the bordering regions of NATO and Russia. The nuclear arms control could then be conducted between the USA, European states, and Russia, with a close look and joint approach toward China, India, and other nuclear weapon states.

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