Creating disarmament synergies: The general and complete disarmament multiplier

There are few concepts as badly misunderstood in the disarmament and arms control literature as “general and complete disarmament under effective international control” or GCD. To some ill-informed observers, GCD is prima facie unacceptable because of its utopian connotations: it implies the elimination of literally every weapon, of all types, everywhere. Working from this false premise, such critics typically conclude that GCD is “unrealistic”—or at best a concept to be viewed as an “ultimate goal”, to be achieved only when all other challenges are resolved first. Even the United Nations treats GCD as an “ultimate goal”.

Related Subject(s): Disarmament