like wildfire on the playground, given the close and uncontrolled
activities that take place. Frequently people will use playgrounds
as dumping grounds for garbage and other hazardous materials
because they want to save the money associated with proper dis-
posal or because they simply do not care about the effects on
others.

Playground monitors, who used to provide a guarantee of order
in case something went wrong, are virtually nonexistent in park
playgrounds and at schools are sparse and distracted; given what
goes on, many of these monitors have learned to stand together
talking to each other, seemingly intentionally not noticing all the
problems that are transpiring. Such behavior might not be as ir-
responsible as it initially appears; for monitors to intervene in
some of the dangerous activities on the playground might very
well place them in immediate peril. Moreover, the problems that
exist here are so deep-rooted that in many ways it would seem
foolhardy to believe that the solution lies in dramatically increas-
ing the number of monitors present.

The spirit of anarchy prevails, and nobody in his or her right
mind would go to a playground after dark. Indeed, many students
at schools stay in their classrooms rather than face the threatening
environment present during recess, and many parents will not let
their children play on public park playgrounds at any time during
the day. Because society in general seems to harbor a glorified
view of the virtues of playground activities, does not really have
any direct knowledge of what goes on in playgrounds, or views
playgrounds as unworthy of scrutiny because they are simply
places where free-choice leisure time activities take place, it has
largely ignored the severe problems that exist here.

This study contends that the playground is an appropriate
metaphor to characterize the current global security setting in
which deadly transfers flow in ever-increasing quantities from
place to place. Despite the recent paucity of formal international
wars, civil strife and ethnic violence have escalated significantly
since the end of the Cold War, fueled by growing clandestine ship-
ments of conventional arms to the regions of turmoil. Terrorist

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