The Dewey Decimal System for Things That Go Boom

How do you prove a cluster munition was used when every country calls it something different? This episode unpacks the hidden scaffolding of arms control: the UN Munitions Reference System (MRS), the MTCR equipment annex for missile technology, the Chemical Weapons Convention schedules, and the UN Register of Conventional Arms. We explore how each taxonomy was built for a different purpose—monitoring, export control, trade transparency, or humanitarian clearance—and why getting the definition exactly right can mean the difference between a sanctions violation and a diplomatic stalemate. From the 300 km / 500 kg threshold for nuclear-capable missiles to the Schedule system that balances chemical weapons control with industrial production, these classification systems shape every arms control conversation you've ever read about.