Supercarriers and the unbundling of export controls

This article raises questions as to whether 'supercarriers' will contribute to the 'unbundling' of present export control systems for two reasons. First, there are distinct regional and national concerns about the continued exercise of US extraterritoriality through its export control legislation and COCOM. This prompts a possible formation of regional export control regimes, especially when governments are becoming less tolerant of external institutional arrangements that prejudice their firms. Second, electronic information flows are unique. The main conclusion is that a one state-dominated and multilateral system of governance of 'supercarriers' will be increasingly less tenable in the evolving political economy.