HOW TO USE THIS MONOGRAPH
Taya Weiss
The information in this monograph is organized to provide several
reading options.
Introduction, ‘When is a nation not a nation?’ provides a theoretical
framework and conceptual background on the ideas behind demand. It also articulates the need to re-frame the small arms policy debate around a more realistic approach to markets and proliferation.
Chapter One, ‘Methodology’, describes the rationale behind doing the
fieldwork in Kenya and explains how the interviews and profiles were chosen and conducted.
Chapter Two discusses existing small arms policies at the international,
regional, and national levels and examines their relevance to demand-based issues.
Chapter Three to Chapter Seven consist of geographically catalogued ‘Profiles of Demand’, in which locally based efforts to reduce the demand for guns are described and analysed at the organizational level. This section also contains segments of interviews where research participants describe the issues on the ground in their own words.
Finally, the Conclusion lists the main factors behind demand that emerged from this research and indicates future research questions and the way
forward for policy in these areas.
ITINERARY 1:
If you are interested in reading mostly about the theory behind a demand-based approach:
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First, go to Chapter One, which introduces the concepts and the framework on which the fieldwork was based.
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You can then skip to the Conclusion, which provides details about the larger trends behind the demand for small arms and policy recommendations based on each trend.
ITINERARY 2:
If you are interested in reading mostly case studies about local demand reduction measures:
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You can read Chapter One for a primer on tools of demand-based analysis.
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Skim Chapter Two to understand how organizational profiles were chosen and compiled.
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Then, skip to Chapters Three through Seven, which consist of geographically organized profiles on locally based organizations and groups working to reduce the demand for guns in their areas. The Nairobi chapter is the only one examining specific initiatives in the urban context.
ITINERARY 3:
If you are interested in finding the policy recommendations:
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Go straight to the Conclusion, which outlines factors behind demand that emerged from this research and discusses the way forward from the policy perspective.
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If you then want more background on the theory behind the demand side of small arms proliferation, skim Chapter One for the framework of the research or Chapter Two for a discussion of relevant small arms policy at the international, regional, and national levels.
