THE POLICY OF NON-LETHAL OPTION AND THE PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS IN CONTEMPORARY WARFARE: IMPLICATIONS ON SOCIO-HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY GLOBAL POLITICS

¹Victor Chidubem Iwuoha, ²Nwanolue Bonn Obiekwe Godwin

¹Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

²Department of Political Science, Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus

E-mail:tchydubevick@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The increase in human population, characterized by the pursuit of individual and groups divergent interest, has brought about armed conflicts of all kinds in the 21^st century global politics. This singular scenario has necessitated the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by some nations. The attendant purpose for the production of such weapons, among other factors, could be to launch offensive and defensive attacks on the enemy territories, as the need arises. However, such countries often fail to appreciate the negative implications of possessing and applying such explosives during combat. Hence, this paper sets out to examine “The Policy of Non-Lethal Option and the Prohibition of Certain Conventional Weapons in Contemporary Warfare: Implications on Socio-Human Development In the 21^st Century Global Politics”. In this direction, the following issues were revisited with the intending belief that the use of weapons of mass destruction in armed conflicts would be reduced to the barest minimum. They include:- Development of Non – Lethal Weapons, the Application Of Non-Lethal Weapons In Contemporary Warfare,  Implications of the Use of Non-Lethal Weapons in Armed Conflicts: “Taser as a Model”, Deaths and injuries related to Taser Use, the 1980 United Nations Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions of Certain Conventional Weapons Excessively Injurious to Socio-Human Development and  Calmative Agents.