Armers and Disarmers: A False Dichotomy Reconsidered--Some Tentative Designs

Samenvatting

Professional disarmers & armers, the former being in an 'unnatural' or 'marginal' position, the latter showing an ever growing moral umcertainty confronted with the new logic of modern arms, are opposed both sociol'ly & psychol'ly. 2 theoretical continuums are posed: (A) power needs (ie, value orientation to the goals & means of security policy formation), & (B) conservation criticism (ie, role definitions in respect to the practice of security policy formation). Both professional armers & disarmers find themselves in the power/conservation ends of the continuum; the "ethical disarmers" will find themselves at the needs/criticism end; & the dichotomy armers-disarmers proves to be a false typology of personality. The parts of the continuum where a debate between armers & disarmers could be useful is indicated. AA.