AK Armament and Arms Control

Who we are 

Our working group is a transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary network of academics and practitioners who work and/or teach on issues of armament and arms control in German-speaking countries.

We understand arms control as an approach to cooperative security policy that aims to contain arms dynamics by regulating the means of violence. It thus encompasses the entire spectrum of measures for risk reduction and escalation prevention, for the limitation and non-proliferation of weapons, and for their disarmament and elimination.

Together, we want to conduct applied, policy-relevant and critical research into (current) arms dynamics, explore possibilities for arms control, and provide well-founded insights into these issues.

In addition to professional exchange, we are particularly committed to supporting civil society, the media, and political decision-makers with reliable information and guidance, thereby helping to shape the dialogue and political debate on this topic. To this end, we work closely with other AFK working groups and other specialist groups.

What we do

The working group’s activities include

• virtual exchange
• joint events in the context of AFK annual conferences
• workshops
• position and policy papers

What our members work on

• arms dynamics and armament
• nuclear deterrence and arms control
• conventional arms control
• arms trade and arms export control
• humanitarian arms control (e.g., cluster munitions, landmines)
• automated and autonomous systems (e.g., drones), new technologies, and AI related to arms (control)
• militarization
• military technology and changes in warfare

We warmly invite everyone interested in collaboration and exchange! The working group is open to all who would like to discuss and engage with the topics outlined above – with a special welcome to students eager to get involved.