SIPRI's Jubilee Celebration, new data on international arms transfers, Munich Security Conference and more

SIPRI at 50—A Year of Reflection on Peace and Security: Tracking international arms flows and why it matters for peace

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, SIPRI is producing the short-film series 2016—A Year of Reflection, which focuses on SIPRI's 50 years' experience of fact-building for peace and its role in building a more peaceful future. The second film, 'Tracking international arms flows and why it matters for peace', features SIPRI Senior Researchers Dr Aude Fleurant, Pieter Wezeman and Mark Bromley discussing the international arms trade and efforts to control it.

Watch the second film or see the whole series thus far on SIPRI's YouTube channel.

This film series is produced in cooperation with Different Films Limited.

The legacy of revolution and resistance in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has featured in breaking international news in recent years, mainly for the revolutionary struggle and the popular resistance against authoritarian rule and abuse of power. But also making the news have been stories of a possible backlash against these positive political developments, notably the coup d’état in September 2015 and the terrorist attacks in January 2016. Some observers concluded that such negative events mark ‘the end of the Burkinabe exception’. This essay argues that revolution and resistance represent a specific strand of the country’s socio-political legacy.

Read the essay by Sten Hagberg, Professor in Cultural Anthropology at Uppsala University.

North Korea's space launch

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) launched a space launch vehicle (SLV) on 7 February 2016 at around 09:00 local time in North Korea, with the aim of placing a satellite into the earth’s orbit. Until more information is provided by North Korea on the SLV launch one can only speculate on the type and characteristics of the SLV and the satellite.

Read the expert comment by Tariq Rauf.

New SIPRI data: Asia and the Middle East lead rise in arms imports; the United States and Russia remain largest arms exporters

The volume of international transfers of major weapons has grown continuously since 2004 and rose by 14 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15, according to new data on international arms transfers published by SIPRI on 22 February.

For more information, read the fact sheet, the press release or see more graphics and maps on the SIPRI website.

New mapping tool for the Arms Trade Treaty launched

National implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will require states parties to strengthen their arms transfer control systems and to implement measures for addressing the diversion of conventional arms. SIPRI is pleased to present a web-based tool for mapping activities aimed at building state capacity in these areas.

Read more information about the mapping tool, download the background paper or visit the website.

A view from the Munich Security Conference—what’s new on SIPRI’s blog WritePeace?

European Security. Crisis? What crisis?

Read this and all earlier WritePeace blog contributions.

New SIPRI publication on ATT-related outreach assistance in sub-Saharan Africa

SIPRI issued a new background paper: ATT-related outreach assistance in sub-Saharan Africa: identifying gaps and improving coordination by Mark Bromley and Christina Arabia.

Many states will require financial and technical assistance to help them implement the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). This need is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa where many states have been severely affected by the illicit trade in, and proliferation of, small arms and light weapons.

This background paper gives an overview of the ATT-relevant cooperation and assistance activities involving states in sub-Saharan Africa during 2011–15. In doing so, it provides suggestions for how states and regional, international and non-governmental organizations—as well the ATT Secretariat itself—could help to fill the gaps in the assistance provided thus far. The paper draws on a new online database of ATT-relevant cooperation and assistance activities that was jointly developed by SIPRI and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC).

Download the background paper.
 

New SIPRI publication on Russia's Arctic security policy

SIPRI issued a new policy paper: Russia's Arctic security policy: still quiet in the High North? by Ekaterina Klimenko.

As part of a wider, ongoing programme of military modernization, Russia has been strengthening its military and civil emergency forces in the Arctic. At the same time, many experts and policymakers have continued to view the region as a benign security environment.

However, against the background of the conflict in Ukraine and growing tensions between Russia and the West, Russia’s military build-up in the Arctic has become a trigger for renewed concern regarding the potential militarization of the region. This policy paper centres on Russia’s Arctic security policy and the possible changing security landscape in the Arctic.

Download the policy paper.

SIPRI Yearbook 2015

The 46th edition of the SIPRI Yearbook is a compendium of data and analysis in the areas of security and conflicts; military spending and armaments; and non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament. It covers developments during 2014, including:

• aspects of the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine;
• regional military-security trends in East Asia;
• military spending in the USA;
• the continued negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear programme; and
• the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty.

Download a summary of the SIPRI Yearbook 2015.
Browse the contents page.