Arms Export to Developing Countries: Making the Critical Appraisal : A qualitative comparative case study on the connection between arms export to developing countries and the level of development in the receiving country.

Sammanfattning: Arms export to developing countries is heavily debated. Scholars have presented arguments about both why arms export may be beneficial and why it may be detrimental to development of the receiving country, and empirical results are inconclusive. Existing literature has focused on a broad range of outcomes rather than solely on the developmental aspects of the receiving country. Therefore a remarkable dispute and gap exist in the literature regarding the relationship between arms export and the receiving country’s level of development. In this study I argue that arms export to developing countries will increase the receiving country’s level of development. Development is defined as human rights, strong institutions and economic growth. The empirical findings, based on the comparative analysis of Chile and Argentina 2002-12, indicates support for the hypothesis. The economic growth criteria received the strongest support but also, to a lesser extent, the criteria of human rights and strong institutions. However, in order to draw any greater generalizable conclusion, a greater number of cases needs to be examined as well as the testing for alternative explanations. Such as if the empirically found causality is a case of reverse causation or how the two cases' different processes in their return to democracy had an impact on their level of development.