WHEN: Thu, November 12, 6:00pm – 7:15pm      WHERE: Irvine

“The Global Scourge of Armed Violence: Can Anything Be Done?”

The end of the Cold War saw an increase in armed violence, most of it taking place within nation-states. The tools of violence being used are small arms and light weapons, readily available at low cost, concealable and low maintenance. They are often referred to as the weapons of mass destruction, in slow motion. The international community is now fully engaged in trying to reduce and prevent this armed violence. Professor Ed Laurance, who has been involved from the beginning in this effort, will trace the growth of this violence, and discuss the various approaches being taken by governments, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to end it.

This public lecture celebrates Dr. Edward J. Laurance’s appointment to the Gordon Paul Smith Chair in International Policy Studies.