The Study of Defence Conversion since 1945

Abstract

The conversion of armaments has a long history stretching back into biblical times. The vision of a society without war, in which military industries and armed forces could be turned to peaceful purposes, has recurred in many traditions, secular and religious, as a powerful inspiration to those seeking an end to violence and injustice. The appeal of conversion is such that, at first sight, this idea has the ability to cross political, cultural and ideological barriers which little else could traverse. On how many other issues could Isaiah’s prophetic utterance:

… and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more…¹