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BASIC Publications

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• BASIC Email Updates
• Research Reports
• Basic Papers
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• Joint Publications

Research Reports

• Assessing ISAF: A Baseline Study of NATO's Role in Afghanistan, by Cameron Scott, BASIC Research Report 2007.2, March 2007
  
  
• Oceans of Work: Arms Conversion Revisited, Steven Schofield, BASIC Research Report 2007.1 - January 2007
  
  
• See, Speak, and Hear No Incompetence: An Analysis of the Findings of The Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, by David Isenberg, BASIC Special Research Report 2005.1, October 2005.
  
  
• A Fistful of Contractors: The Case for a Pragmatic Assessment of Private Military Companies in Iraq, by David Isenberg, BASIC Research Report 2004.4, September 2004.
  
  
• Escaping the Subsidy Trap: Why arms exports are bad for Britain, This report demonstrates that significant subsidies are provided to UK arms exports, and that there are no economic or employment gains to be had from such support, BASIC, Saferworld, Oxford Research Group, 22 September 2004.
• US-UK nuclear weapons collaboration under the Mutual Defence Agreement: Shining a torch on the darker recesses of the ‘special relationship’, (PDF), by Nigel Chamberlain, Nicola Butler and Dave Andrews, BASIC Special Report 2004.3, 17 June 2004.
• Sailing Into Uncharted Waters? The Proliferation Security Initiative and the Law of the Sea, by Andreas Persbo and Ian Davis, BASIC Research Report 2004.2, June 2004.
• Unravelling the Known Unknowns: Why no Weapons of Mass Destruction have been found in Iraq, by David Isenberg and Ian Davis. The conclusion is inescapable: there is nothing to be found. This means that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair made a WMD mountain out of what, at best, was a molehill. BASIC Special Report, 2004.1, January 2004.
  
• The OSCE: A Forgotten Transatlantic Security Organization?
  Analyzes the impact of the OSCE on managing conflict in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and suggests that this relatively unknown institution deserves more attention from policy makers. The report also makes recommendations for improving the OSCE.BASIC Research Report 2002.3, 31 July 2002.
  (Only available in Adobe PDF format)
  
• Bunker Busters: Washington's Drive For New Nuclear Weapons Documents the "re-rationalisation" of nuclear weapons that gathered pace during the 1990s but has rapidly accelerated under the Bush administration. The report also examines the damaging implications that these developments will have for international arms control and global security. BASIC Research Report 2002.2, 28 July 2002. (Only available in Adobe PDF format)
  
• Secrecy and Dependence: The UK Trident System in the 21^st Century Examines the close links between UK and US nuclear development and policies and how the Bush administration's desire for a more versatile nuclear capability, and Washington's deep opposition to international arms control, about the future of the UK Trident system. Exploring these currents, the report highlights key nuclear weapons policy questions that will need to be addressed during Labour's second term. BASIC Research Report 2001.3, November 2001
  
  
• Disease by Design: De-mystifying the Biological Weapons Debate Analyses the dangers of bio-weapons proliferation and use from terrorists and from state-sponsored weapons programs. The report recommends several key steps to strengthening the BTWC in an effort to combat bio-weapons proliferation. BASIC Research Report 2001.2, November 2001
  
  
• Export Controls in the Framework Agreement Countries
  In July 2000, Europe's six largest arms producers - France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - signed a Framework Agreement to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defense industry. Four of the six countries have now ratified the Framework Agreement. This paper outlines the export control regulations in the six countries in order to better understand the implications of this harmonization. BASIC Research Report 2001.1, July 2001
  
  
• NATO and Arms Control: A Blueprint for Action
  BASIC Research Report 2000.3, 3 October 2000
  
  
• A Conflict Prevention Service of the European Union (COPS)
  A new concept paper is an effort to influence thinking about conflict prevention in Europe. Such a service, combining paramilitary police functions with those of more traditional civilian monitors, would be aimed at filling the gap in crisis handling mechanisms now looming between diplomacy and military force. BASIC Research Report 2000.2, June 2000 (available only in Adobe PDF format)

• The Arms Fixers: Controlling the Brokers and Shipping Agents
  Uncovers new details of arms brokering deals, implicating major actors taking advantage of current loopholes in UK and EU law. The authors highlight a number of key concerns that urgently need to be addressed, including weak legislation, poor enforcement mechanisms and lax financial controls/company regulation. Finally, the report makes substantive proposals for regulating the activities of arms brokering and shipping agent. Preface and Introduction available; entire report available on NISAT's website. BASIC Research Report 99.3, November 1999

• Y2K and Nuclear Arsenals: A Final Report
  Assesses the progress made by the United States in preparing its nuclear operations to avoid problems resulting from the "millenium bug," and highlights remaining concerns with the status of Russia's nuclear weapons infrastructure. BASIC Research Report 99.4, November 1999

• One Size Fits All?: Prospects for a Global Convention on Illicit Trafficking by 2000
  Emphasizes that the current discussions on the UN Firearms Protocol, while groundbreaking, also run the risk of producing a document that falls short of human rights and humanitarian law standards. Current political pressure also may result in lawmakers inadequately addressing small arms and light weapons trafficking in all its aspects. BASIC Research Report 99.2, April 1999

• A Risk Reduction Strategy for NATO: Preparing for the Next 50 Years
  Analyses key elements of the six working documents under consideration at the NATO Summit in April 1999, and recommends that NATO develop policies for conflict prevention and management measures, as well as arms control and disarmament. BASIC Research Report 99.1, January 1999

• Nuclear Futures: Western European Options for Nuclear Risk Reduction
  Advocating six steps for Western European nations to take to reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons, this report's recommendations can help create a more sustainable security policy, advance disarmament, and strengthen the international non-proliferation regime. BASIC Research Report 98.5, December 1998

• The Bug in the Bomb: The Impact of the Year 2000 Problem on Nuclear Weapons
  This report describes the nature and scope of the Year 2000 (Y2K) computing problem for nuclear weapons arsenals. Primary emphasis is given to the severe difficulties experienced by the Department of Defense in repairing Y2K problems and verifying the continuing safety of nuclear operations for the upcoming millennium. BASIC Research Report 98.6, November 1998

• Deadly Rounds: Ammunition and Armed Conflict
  This report discusses the link between ammunition and armed conflict, and explores ammunition production, trade routes, and the negative effects of ammunition supply on stability and security. Strategies for controlling ammunition address the legal and illicit trade of ammunition, and recommendations for future ammunition studies are offered. Executive Summary available in HTML format. BASIC Research Report 98.4, May 1998

• Campaigns & Projects on Light Weapons
  A directory of individuals and organizations around the world that work to stem the flow of light weapons BASIC Research Report 98.3, April 1998
  NOTE: For current information please go to IANSA's Web Site
  
  
• Nuclear Futures: Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and US Nuclear Strategy
  This report reveals that the the United States has actively sought to increase its ability to target non-nuclear countries around the globe for almost a decade. The new guidelines, issued by President Clinton in November 1997, which reportedly call for the use of US nuclear weapons against "rogue" states armed with chemical and biological weapons, merely formalize seven years of expansion of nuclear doctrine. Executive Summary available in HTML format. Entire report available only in PDF format. BASIC Research Report 98.2, March 1998
  

• Combating Illicit Light Weapons Trafficking: Developments and Opportunities
  This paper provides an overview of the illicit light weapons trade and evaluates several multilateral control initiatives already underway, most notably in the EU and OAS. The authors make a series of policy recommendations that stress the need for cooperative action, beginning with the summit of the G8 in May 1998. They go on to point out the danger of emphasizing illicit transfers to divert attention from the spread of light weapons through licit and "gray" market channels. Executive Summary available in HTML format. Entire report available only in PDF format. BASIC Research Report 98.1, January 1998
  

• Bridging the Gap: Light and Major Conventional Weapons in Recent Conflicts
  This paper, prepared by Natalie Goldring (with research assistance from Susannah Dyer, Joel Johnston, and Alexander Chloros) for the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, examines the roles of light and major conventional weapons in recent conflicts and stresses the importance of addressing the entire range used in such conflicts when formulating policy proposals. In HTML format. 18 March 1997
  

• NATO Expansion: Time to Reconsider
  This special report, written by Tasos Kokkinides from BASIC and Martin Butcher from the Centre for European Security and Disarmament (CESD), argues that NATO should conduct a cost-benefit analysis of expansion and that alternatives to NATO Enlargement should be explored. 25 November 1996
  
  "For those interested in just how ruinous NATO membership will be for the new members, there is the special report NATO Expansion: Time to Reconsider." "The Last Empire," by Gore Vidal, Vanity Fair, November 1997, p.220.

• Nuclear Futures: The Role of Nuclear Weapons in Security Policy.
  This report counters the perception that the end of the Cold War will directly lead to complete nuclear disarmament. It analyzes the declared nuclear powers' new nuclear policies and strategies in response to the changing global security environment, showing how they are using perceived new threats to justify continued reliance on nuclear weapons. Co-written by Paul Rogers and Simon Whitby of Bradford University and BASIC Senior Analyst Stephen Young. (Executive Summary available in HTML) BASIC Research Report 96.1, April 1996

• Campaigns and Projects on Light Weapons
  This guide contains descriptions of projects and contact information for more than 40 organizations and individuals working on light weapons issues. Project on Light Weapons Working Paper #1, February 1996
  NOTE: For current information, please go to IANSA's Web Site

• Light Weapons Manufacture in the Public and Private Sectors: A View From Pakistan
  This paper studies the management of light weapons manufacture in both the public and private sectors in Pakistan, and offers policy recommendations. Project on Light Weapons Working Paper #2, February 1996
  

• Study on NATO Enlargement: Destabilizing Europe
  This report analyses NATO's enlargement study concluding that it addresses neither the security risks nor the costs involved with NATO expansion. A joint publication of BASIC and the Centre for European Security and Disarmament. Not available on the web. Issues in European Security, #3; Report 95.2

• The Role of British Nuclear Weapons After the Cold War
  Written by Professor Paul Rogers, Bradford University, this report examines Britain's strategy for a limited nuclear war and Britain's reluctance to eliminate it's nuclear weapons. Not available on the web. BASIC Research Report 95.1

• Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Now or Never
  The eighth and final report in the series published by the Acronym Consortium. This report gives an overview of the 1995 session of negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, with particular emphasis on the state of negotiations towards a CTBT. The Acronym Consortium was comprised of BASIC, the Verification Technology Information Center, Dfax, and the International Security Information Service. October 1995. Executive Summary - to order a copy contact BASIC.

• Indefinite Extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty: Risks and Reckonings
  The seventh in the series published by the Acronym Consortium, this report looks at the arguments, decisions and dynamics of the 1995 Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of the decisions and looks at some implications for the future. The Acronym Consortium was comprised of BASIC, the Verification Technology Information Center, Dfax, and the International Security Information Service. September 1995. Executive Summary - to order a copy contact BASIC.

• Proceedings of a Seminar on Nuclear Testing and the CTB & Implementing the Decisions of the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference: A European Perspective!
  Among the speakers were Pauline Green, MEP (Leader of the PSE); Therese Delpeche, Adjoint au Directeur des Relations Internationales du Commissariat aà l'Energie Atomique; Richard Ekwall, Minister, Swedish Representative to the Conference on Disarmament; Peter Goosen, South African Representative to the Conference on Disarmament; Thomas Graham, Special Representative to the U.S. President for Arms Control and Disarmament; and Bernhard Sitt, Ministeère de la Deéfense. September 1995, not available on the web.

• Strengthening the Non-Proliferation Regime: Ends and Beginnings
  The sixth in a series published by the Acronym Consortium, this report reviews the First 1995 Session of Negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament. It analyzes the extension options and procedural debates over voting, and provides a full report and analysis of negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty fissile material cut-off at the CD during 1994 and the first months of 1995. The Acronym Consortium was comprised of BASIC, the Verification Technology Information Center, Dfax, and the International Security Information Service. April 1995. Executive Summary - to order a copy contact BASIC.

• NATO, Peacekeeping and the United Nations
  This report, compiled by an international team of researchers, analyzes internal documents from NATO and several member states, revealing contradictions between the peacekeeping doctrines of NATO, the United Nations and individual nations. Published jointly by BASIC and the Berlin Information-centre for Transatlantic Security (BITS). September 1994

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