Landmines and the Small Arms Movement

1. Landmines and the Small Arms Movement Tom Hunt, Deng Malual, Will Nagle, Brian Zapert

2. Thesis The modern small arms movement has failed to emulate the ICBLs success due to the attempted scale, lack of leadership, and a determined opposition.

3. Introduction to Land Mines Movement International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) Founded in 1992, led by Jody Williams Collection of over 1,100 NGOs in over 90 countries Achieved international ban on the manufacture, transfer, use and deployment of anti-personnel land mines Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for their efforts Became the benchmark for TSMNs

4. Why the campaign was successful Issue Characteristics: landmines kill and maim civilians and remain active after the end of hostilities (in violation of international humanitarian law); focus on one class of weapons only Actor characteristics: A broad network of NGOs from humanitarian, development, and human rights sectors Target characteristics: NGOs initially targeted countries likely to support their cause (Canada, Scandinavian countries) Symbolic Politics: innocent victims (children, farmers, women fetching water, etc.) Map of landmine usage since 2002.

5. Introduction to the Small Arms Movement International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) • Created in the late 1990s • Goal is to combat the problems associated with the widespread proliferation, circulation, use and misuse of small arms internationally. • Engaged in fact-finding missions, weapons collection and destruction programs

6. What are Small Arms? • Any man-portable lethal weapon that expels or launches or may be readily converted to expel or launch a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive. • In general, “small arms” refer to weapons meant for individual use, including pistols, rifles, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns. Preparatory Committee for a Global Campaign on Small Arms and Light Weapons • Founded by Ed Laurance at a meeting with representatives from 23 NGOs • Purpose was to develop an Internet database of information on Small Arms activities

7. Small Arms Movement • Started after the successes of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Small Arms Movements seeks to rid the world of small and light weaponry, which are prolonging and enhancing conflict globally. Unfortunately, many powerful individuals and corporations have a vested interest in the sale of small arms.

8. Similarities of SAM and ICBL • Small arms movement based on the success of ICBL • Use of emotion, numbers • Success in raising awareness • Both NGOs – UN involvement? • United States Position

9. International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) • A loose coalition of NGOs, IGOs, citizens, and other actors interested in banning small arms. They seek to educate the populace about the dangers of small arms, increase public awareness, and to promote collaboration and cooperation amongst those who seek to ban small arms.

10. Why has it been unsuccessful (so far)? • Target – too many objectives • Product – it’s everywhere • People – opposition

11. National Rifle Association • The National Rifle Association is a U.S. based NGO, established in 1871, dedicated to the promotion of firearm ownership rights, marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and self-defense. (www.nra.org)

12. What should make the campaign to ban small arms successful? • Issue characteristics: small arms are used to kill civilians and easily transferable from conflict to another if used in regional conflicts. Focus on one class of weapons only (handgun) • Actor characteristics: Reorganization (strong leadership) • Target characteristics: NGOs should initially target countries likely to support their cause (countries that are out of small arms business or do not produce them) • Symbolic politics: innocent victims (students)

13. Bibliography • http://spash.blogdrive.com/ • http://www.iansa.org/issues/documents/SmallArmsDev_06RevConResults.pdf