Arms control failure and the balance of power

The purpose of the arms control process is to minimize the likelihood of wa r while preserving the security of states. When arms control ceases to be a method of solving co-operation problems, and becomes a regulator of intern ational politics, it undermines the ability of states to balance against pr eponderant threats. This study focuses on the ways that arms control can po tentially shea-circuit the peace-enhancing aspects of the balance of power system. It concludes with an examination of the contrasting and complementa ry contributions of that system and of arms control in six policy areas.