This paper analyses the trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) from 1990 to 2017. Our analysis relies on an unbalanced panel of 79,245 observations reporting SALW transfers between 9,275 pairs of countries. In particular, we study the impact of embargoes on trade in SALW. We test different channels through which arms embargoes may affect trade in SALW. We use a gravity model framework where we include beside traditional gravity variables also controls specific to trade in SALW. Results show that (i) embargoes reduce SALW imports of target country; (ii) there is no evidence of sanctions-busting because imports neighbor countries do not seem to be positively affected; (iii) Imports of sport arms -which can be subject to fewer restrictions -appear to be unrelated to sanctions, indicating that the trade in this type of weapon may be still quite unrestricted.
Despite raising fears over the use of states’ cyber capabilities as a tool of foreign policy, little empirical evidence is provided about its actual diffusion. Using a newly developed dataset collecting information on cyber interactions between rival states from 2000 to 2014, I analyse the evolution of the network of cyber incidents over the considered period by the mean of a Social Network Analysis approach. Results show that the level of cohesion in the network is low and the number of countries which does not make use of cyber tactics is high. Furthermore, Russia is emerging as the major offender while the USA is the most attacked country. Finally, geography appears to be a driving factor in influencing links formation.
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