Abstract
This paper examines how South Africa can leverage its participation in the Arms Trade
Treaty (ATT) and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) to achieve
technological and developmental advancement. Drawing on secondary qualitative
research, the study analyses how international arms control regimes can act as both
a constraint and a catalyst for innovation in middle-power states.
The findings reveal that whilst South Africa maintains a consistent diplomatic presence
in these forums, it lacks the institutionalised mechanisms to translate this
engagement into tangible technological benefits. The study demonstrates that arms
control frameworks can stimulate domestic innovation in areas like verification
technologies and dual-use research. However, this potential is significantly limited
by domestic barriers, including regulatory complexity, bureaucratic inertia, and persis
tent capacity gaps. Consequently, valuable opportunities to access international
knowledge networks and partnerships remain underutilised due to the absence of a
formal strategy linking treaty participation with national innovation objectives.
This research contributes a nuanced, conditional answer to the central question: South
Africa can harness its arms control engagement for national development, provided
specific domestic reforms are undertaken. The study advances a model for how middle
powers can convert treaty participation into developmental outcomes and presents
a series of policy recommendations aimed at bridging the gap between international
commitments and domestic aspirations. Ultimately, this work re-frames arms control
not merely as a restrictive instrument but as a powerful and synergistic tool
for fostering technological sovereignty and enhancing national progress.