<P> The resulting bellicose climate imbues international relations with competitive nationalism and contributes, in rich and poor countries alike, to increasing military budgets, siphoning off huge sums of public money to the benefit of the arms industry and military - oriented scientific innovation, hence fueling global insecurity . Of these enormous sums, a fraction would be enough to provide a permanent solution for the basic needs of the planet's population hence practically eliminating the causes of war and terrorism . </P> <P> Andrée Michel argues that the arms race is not only proceeding with greater vigor, it is the surest means for Western countries to maintain their hegemony over countries of the South . Following the break - up of the Eastern bloc countries, she maintains, a strategy for the manipulation of the masses was set up with a permanent invention of an enemy (currently incarnated by Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, and North Korea) and by kindling fear and hate of others to justify perpetuating the Military--industrial complex and arms sales . The author also recalls that the "Big Five" at the UN who have the veto right are responsible for 85% of arms sales around the world . </P> <P> Proposals for the governance of peace, security, and conflict resolution begin by addressing prevention of the causes of conflicts, whether economic, social, religious, political, or territorial . This requires assigning more resources to improving people's living conditions--health, accommodation, food, and work--and to education, including education in the values of peace, social justice, and unity and diversity as two sides of the same coin representing the global village . </P> <P> Resources for peace could be obtained by regulating, or even reducing military budgets, which have done nothing but rise in the past recent years . This process could go hand in hand with plans for global disarmament and the conversion of arms industries, applied proportionally to all countries, including the major powers . Unfortunately, the warlike climate of the last decade has served to relegate all plans for global disarmament, even in civil - society debates, and to pigeonhole them as a long - term goal or even a Utopian vision . This is definitely a setback for the cause of peace and for humankind, but it is far from being a permanent obstacle . </P>

Who has sovereignty with regard to international governance