Sipri Year Book -1997

Columnist Col (Retd) EAS BOKHARI reviews the

SIPRI YEAR BOOK 1997 published by

Oxford University Press

Hithertofore the Sipri year book had devoted much space and scholarship on the issue of arms transfers and connected disciplines - but the last few editions are more concerned with international security. The reason being that with the end of the cold war - and with the shrinkage of defence budgets worldwide more regional conflicts are surfacing up which need more coverage than the arms industry and connected disciplines. Arms industry, defence technology, and arms transfers all the same find enough space in the book.

Some of the more current and engaging topics like nuclear tests, and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have also been copiously dealt with and covered - but perhaps the most extensive coverage of world wide conflicts raging presently is the special feature of this handy reference book. The CTBT has been covered in a most lucid manner for all its complexity.

Sipri (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) is a truly international assemblage of some of the most competent scholars who ceaselessly work on issues of armament, disarmament and international security. The centre piece of the work of this highly regarded research outfit - and the bible for diplomats, United Nations Staff, Military planners and foreign reporters is the Sipri Year Book - which I must say is an amazing collection of most well researched work in the rather awkward field of security and defence equipment production.

Of course, there is no shortage of such works but the British Military Balance and the US WMEAT (World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers) Washington DC are more specific topic-oriented and not as comprehensive as the Sipri Year Book is.

The Year Book 1997 - is the 28th such presentation by Sipri - and it broadly analyses the following issues:

• Security and conflicts - worldwide.
• Military spending and armaments, and
• Non-Proliferation, arms control and disarmament.

Although I did meet Mr. Ravinder Pal Singh - an Indian scholar - there was no Pakistani at Sipri at that time. Mr. Singh is now a senior researcher there and one of his books (for Sipri) is due for publication next month. Oxford University Press is the present publisher for the Sipri research work and other publications including the prestigious year book.

The activities of Sipri are overseen by a Convening Board and the Director who is a sitting member of the Board. The Board and more specifically the Director lays down the 'line' - and within its framework work is carried out by a number of scholars who are then pressed into service. The present Director of the Board is Dr. Adam Daniel Rotfeld of Poland.

Some of the more important contributors to the 1997 Year Book are:

• Dr. Ian Anthony (UK): He has written chapters for the Sipri year books since 1988. He specialises in arms trade - and defence industries.
• Dr. Eric Arnet (USA): His forte is science and international security. He also writes for 'Bulletin of Atomic Scientist'. He has been with Sipri since 1988. He is an expert on CTBT - and had visited Pakistan in connection with his work on Pakistan some time back.
• Ragnhild Ferm (Sweden): She is the leader of Sipri Arms Control and Disarmament Documentary Survey Project. She has been with Sipri since 1982.
• Dr. Trevor Findlay (Australia): He is an expert on peace keeping and security projects and is a former diplomat.
• John Hart (USA): A specialist in the Chemical and Biological Warfare.
• Dr. Peter Jones (Canada): The Leader of the Sipri Middle East Security and Arms Control.
• Pieter D. Wezeman (Netherland): He is an expert in arms transfer projects of Sipre.
• Dr. Jean Pascal Zanders (Belgium): His speciality is Chemical and Biological Warfare Projects of Sipri.

And coming to the special studies of the 1997 Year Book the studies which have been covered in depth, besides others include the following:

• Major armed conflicts - and there are a large number of these including Kashmir.
• Armed conflict prevention, management and resolution.
• Regional studies of the Middle East, Russia and Europe.
• World Military Expenditure.
• Military Research and Development.
• The 100 largest arms producing companies.
• The trade in major conventional arms.
• Multilateral export measures for military-related items.
• Nuclear, Chemical and Biological arms control.
• The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
• Conventional arms control.

This is a mouthful - and there are also a number of topics which are spin offs of the above disciplines. The book surely has been lauded by the reviewers all over the world. And here are just a couple of glowing tributes for the meticulous and accurate work of Sipri.

'...'Unique and possibly the only completely reliable publication'. - Literaturnaya Rossiiya (Russia).

'...The reference book par excellence - for all possible developments in armaments and disarmaments of the past year'. - International Vredesinformatiedienst(Belgium).

The book has a good get up and is hard bound. It has more than 585 pages and has an excellent Index for the Research workers' convenience.

As usual the Sipri panelists have produced an excellent piece of military scholarship. I recommend that this book should be read by all the senior military commanders, their staff as well as diplomats and national defence planners. While the price which is not indicated (and which must be around pounds sterling 50 or more) the book is rather expensive to get. The exchange controls make it difficult for ordinary people to have access to it.