Evolution of Treaties: From Conception to Birth—How Are Arms Control Treaties Made?
This publication explores the often opaque and politically complex process behind the creation of arms control treaties (ACTs). Drawing from interviews with diplomats, negotiators, and disarmament experts, as well as a detailed review of ten key historical treaties, this research reveals what factors drive success, what barriers derail progress, and why ACTs are more than isolated legal texts: they are pieces of a continuous geopolitical dialogue.
Key themes include:
- The critical role of geopolitical timing, national interest, and strategic urgency in treaty initiation
- How civil society and smaller states contribute to shaping treaty narratives
- The importance—and challenges—of verification and compliance mechanisms
- The unique dynamics of WMD-related treaties compared to conventional and humanitarian-focused ones
- Lessons for future treaty-making in the context of new threats like AI and counterspace technologies
By framing arms control efforts as an “ongoing conversation,” this publication emphasizes the long lead times and generational efforts required to build global security architecture. Bennett ultimately argues that even in periods of stagnation, groundwork must continue—because when conditions align, preparedness determines impact.
