Influence of Countries in the Global Arms Transfers Network

1950–2018

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Abstract

Using the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database covering all trade in military equipment over the period 1950–2018, we examine the relationship between countries from a novel empirical perspective. We consider the arms transfers network as a multiplex network where each layer corresponds to a particular armament category. First, we analyze how different layers overlap and elucidate main ties between countries. Second, we consider different patterns of trade in order to identify countries specializing on particular armament categories and analyze how they change their export structure in dynamic. We also examine how countries influence each other at different layers of multiplex network. Finally, we analyze the influence of countries in the whole network.