A New Era of Cooperation for the International Society? The Restriction of Illicit International Arms Trade via Digital Technologies

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Bachelor Thesis

Introduction to the English School theory: “The anarchical society of order in World Politics”

Theory Part 1: The Nature of Order in World Politics

Theory Part 2: Does Order Exist in World Politics?

Conclusion

“A master institution of world society? Digital communication networks and the changing dynamic of transnational contention”

Introduction to the article

Conclusion

The role of communication in the evolvement of second-order societies.

Conclusion

How to apply this change of concept of the world society?

Analysis: The international conventional legal and illicit arms trade system and the problem with unrestricted gun trade

The global gun trade system from the industrial revolution to the modern arms trade.

Why is unrestricted gun trade a problem to world order?

Conclusions: Why is unrestricted gun trade a problem to world order?

Evaluation to the problem of non transparent conventional arms trade and possible solutions for a new era in world order

Evaluation of the arms trade system in world order

A new way of cooperation for states?

A new way of cooperation for states with blockchain solution to gun control

Conclusion

Closing remarks

Research Objectives and Core Themes

This thesis examines the challenges of regulating the global conventional arms trade within the current world order. It investigates why traditional state-centric mechanisms, such as the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty, have largely failed to curb illicit and non-transparent arms flows, and explores whether emerging digital technologies like blockchain could provide innovative solutions for enhancing transparency and international cooperation.

• Application of English School theory to analyze global world order dynamics.
• Evaluation of the history and current state of the global conventional arms trade.
• The impact of digital communication on non-state actor participation in politics.
• The potential for blockchain and smart contracts to improve transparency in military trade.
• Challenges of state sovereignty versus the need for new international governance structures.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction to the Bachelor Thesis: Outlines the failure of current arms control measures and establishes the core hypotheses regarding the influence of private actors and digital technologies on the arms trade.

Introduction to the English School theory: “The anarchical society of order in World Politics”: Summarizes the theoretical framework of Hedley Bull, focusing on the state-centric nature of international society and its evolution.

“A master institution of world society? Digital communication networks and the changing dynamic of transnational contention”: Analyzes how new communication technologies empower non-state actors and alter the landscape of international political contention.

Analysis: The international conventional legal and illicit arms trade system and the problem with unrestricted gun trade: Provides a historical overview of the arms trade from the industrial revolution to the present, highlighting the lack of transparency.

Evaluation to the problem of non transparent conventional arms trade and possible solutions for a new era in world order: Critically evaluates existing control attempts like the Arms Trade Treaty and proposes blockchain as a potential solution for transparency.

Closing remarks: Synthesizes the findings, acknowledging that while technological solutions are theoretically promising, they face significant implementation challenges within the current Westphalian state system.

Keywords

International Relations, English School Theory, Arms Trade, Gun Control, Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Global World Order, Transparency, State Sovereignty, Non-state Actors, Digital Technologies, Conventional Weapons, International Policy, Conflict Resolution, Arms Trade Treaty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this bachelor thesis?

The thesis focuses on explaining the dynamics of the global conventional arms trade using English School theory and investigating how digital technologies, specifically blockchain, could help regulate and increase transparency in these trade flows.

What are the primary themes explored in this work?

Key themes include the evolution of the global arms industry, the role of private vs. state actors, the impact of the digital age on political contention, and the efficacy of international agreements like the Arms Trade Treaty.

What is the main research question of the study?

The study asks: "How could the legal and illicit international arms trade be restrained in the world order with new digital technologies?"

Which scientific methodology is applied here?

The research uses a theoretical framework based on the English School of international relations, combined with historical pattern analysis and empirical evaluation of blockchain technology applications.

What is covered in the main section of the paper?

The main section details the history of the global gun trade from the industrial revolution, analyzes the failures of current international arms control treaties, and explores the feasibility of decentralized database systems for tracking military equipment.

Which keywords best describe this research?

The work is characterized by terms such as International Relations, Arms Trade, Blockchain, Transparency, Global World Order, and English School Theory.

How does the author view the role of the state versus non-state actors?

The author argues that while states remain central, the rise of digital technologies and social media has qualitatively shifted power to non-state actors, making the traditional "black box" of state secrecy increasingly difficult to maintain.

Why does the author propose blockchain as a solution?

Blockchain is proposed because its decentralized and immutable nature provides a way to verify and track transactions transparently, which could counteract the current tendency of states to hide or misreport military trade activities.