Demilitarisation

Demilitarisationordemilitarizationmay mean the reduction of state armed forces; it is the opposite ofmilitarisationin many respects.^[1]For instance, the demilitarisation of Northern Ireland entailed the reduction of British security and military apparatuses.^[2]Demilitarisation in this sense is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict. The principle is distinguished fromdemobilisation,which refers to the drastic voluntary reduction in the size of a victorious army.

Definitions

Demilitarisation was a policy in a number of countries after both world wars. In theaftermath of World War I,theUnited Kingdomgreatly reduced its military strength, which is also referred to asdisarmament.The resulting position of British military weakness during the rise of theNazi regimein Germany was among the causes that led to the policy ofappeasement.^[3]

The conversion of a military or paramilitary force into a civilian one is also called demilitarisation. For example, the ItalianPolizia di Statodemilitarised in 1981, and theAustrian Gendarmeriemerged with the national police, making up a new civilian body. Demilitarisation can also refer to the policies employed by Allied forces during theoccupation of JapanandGermanyafterWorld War II.^[4]The Japanese and German militaries were re-badged to disassociate them from their recent war history, but were kept active and reinforced to help the allies face the newSovietthreat, which had become evident as World War II ended and theCold Warbegan.

Demilitarisation can also refer to the reduction of one or more types of weapons or weapons systems(SeeArms Control)or the removal of combat equipment from awarship(SeeJapanese battleship Hiei).

Ademilitarised zoneis a specific area, such as a buffer zone between nations previously engaged in armed conflict, where military persons, equipment or activities are forbidden. This can also include areas designated during conflicts in which nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities or personnel. The demilitarised zone is also free from all activities that assist the war efforts of any of thebelligerents.^[5]Generally, this zone is protected from attack and many countries forbid their troops from targeting because it would constitute a grave breach or a serious war crime that would likely warrant the institution of criminal proceedings.^[6]In the case, however, of theKorean Demilitarised Zone,of the areas beyond the demilitarized strip that separates both sides, are heavily militarized.

Examples of demilitarisation include:

TheTreaty of Versaillesbarred post–World War I Germany from having an air force, armoured vehicles, and certain types of naval vessels. In addition, it established a demilitarised zone in theRhineland.
The massive reductions of military personnel in the Allied countries, following World War I.
- TheDemobilisation of the British Armed Forces after World War II
TheWashington Naval Treaty
TheChemical Weapons Convention
The abolition of the army ofCosta Ricaon December 1, 1948, by President Jose Figueres.^[7]

References

^Frauke Lachenmann; Rüdiger Wolfrum (2017).The Law of Armed Conflict and the Use of Force: The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.Oxford University Press. pp. 327–.ISBN 978-0-19-878462-3.
^Spencer, Graham (2008).The State of Loyalism in Northern Ireland.New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp.148.ISBN 978-1-349-54224-6.
^Rudman, Stella (2011).Lloyd George and the Appeasement of Germany, 1919-1945.Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 192.ISBN 978-1-4438-2657-0.
^Haller, Oliver,Destroying Weapons of Coal, Air and Water: A Critical Evaluation of the American Policy of German Industrial Demilitarization 1945 – 1952(Philipps-Universität Marburg: Marburg, 2006).
^Djukić, Dražan; Pons, Niccolò (2018).A Companion to International Humanitarian Law.Leiden, Netherlands: BRILL Nijhoff. p. 201.ISBN 978-90-04-34200-2.
^Henckaerts, Jean-Marie; Doswald-Beck, Louise; Alvermann, Carolin (2005).Customary International Humanitarian Law.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 691.ISBN 978-0-521-83937-2.
^Bird, Leonard. 1984.Costa Rica: The Unarmed Democracy.London: Sheppard Press, pp. 89–93

[LachenmannWolfrum2017-1] Frauke Lachenmann; Rüdiger Wolfrum (2017).The Law of Armed Conflict and the Use of Force: The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law.Oxford University Press. pp. 327–.ISBN 978-0-19-878462-3.

[2] Spencer, Graham (2008).The State of Loyalism in Northern Ireland.New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp.148.ISBN 978-1-349-54224-6.

[3] Rudman, Stella (2011).Lloyd George and the Appeasement of Germany, 1919-1945.Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 192.ISBN 978-1-4438-2657-0.

[Haller-4] Haller, Oliver,Destroying Weapons of Coal, Air and Water: A Critical Evaluation of the American Policy of German Industrial Demilitarization 1945 – 1952(Philipps-Universität Marburg: Marburg, 2006).

[5] Djukić, Dražan; Pons, Niccolò (2018).A Companion to International Humanitarian Law.Leiden, Netherlands: BRILL Nijhoff. p. 201.ISBN 978-90-04-34200-2.

[6] Henckaerts, Jean-Marie; Doswald-Beck, Louise; Alvermann, Carolin (2005).Customary International Humanitarian Law.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 691.ISBN 978-0-521-83937-2.

[7] Bird, Leonard. 1984.Costa Rica: The Unarmed Democracy.London: Sheppard Press, pp. 89–93

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Demilitarisation

Definitions

See also

References