Almost overnight, the massive military-industrial assets of the Soviet Union came under the jurisdiction of fifteen states instead of one established government. While only four states inherited weapons of mass destruction, most of the fifteen states of the former Soviet Union can produce sensitive materials and equipment. Because all the states serve as transit points for both legal commerce and illegal smuggling, developing export control systems in all the newly independent states (NIS) has become the cornerstone of the global effort to reduce the risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Arms on the Market is the first book to tackle this difficult subject. Not only does it explore the various theoretical approaches that help us understand the development of export control systems in the nis, but it also introduces a unique method for measuring and comparing export control development.

Assesses the challenges facing the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union in controlling and monitoring military-related exports. These states inherited the weapons, materials and technology of the Soviet Union, but not the ability to control their borders or the movement of sensitive items. This book examines and compares export control development throughout the former Soviet Union and explores the various theoretical approaches involved.