The relationship between U.S. and U.S.S.R. arms transfers to Third world nations and its effects on the maintenance of regime stability was examined. This book uses the focused comparison approach to examine three U.S. cases (Vietnam 1960-1975, the Philippines 1950-1989, and El Salvador 1960-1989) and three U.S.S.R. cases (Afghanistan 1950-1989, Vietnam 1976-1989, and Nicaragua 1979-1989). The U.S. and the Soviet cases were chosen due to the intuitive similarities found in the supplier nation's involvement with the recipient Third World nation. The trend in the amounts of arms transfers was determined in each of the cases and compared to the resulting levels of internal threat, external threat, and the ovnr2A level of regime stability.