Prohibited Chemical and Biological Weapons and the Law: Legal Responses to Lethal Innovation

Scientific advances in biological and chemical sciences can offer significant benefits to humanity, but these discoveries may also result in the proliferation of novel classes of weapons and new uses for such weapons. This book explores the current challenges, risks, and opportunities posed by new scientific discoveries in this area.

Focusing on non-human consequences of the use of chemical and biological weapons, issues discussed include their environmental impact; the use of herbicides in armed conflicts; the dangers presented by the transport of chemical and biological agents; the impact of technology on the development and/or manufacture of chemical and biological agents; and the various implementation efforts at national level across countries and regions. The work examines whether the prohibitions on the use of chemical and biological weapons are being weakened, or whether international responses to allegations of their use in recent armed conflicts are actually reinforcing the prohibitions.

The book will be of interest to academics, researchers and policy-makers working in the areas of International Humanitarian Law; Security Law, Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Arms Control, International Relations, and Security Studies.