Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T02:25:58.730Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Role of International Law in Preventing Military Misuse of the Biosciences and Biotechnology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2016

Winfried Lang
Winfried Lang*
Affiliation:
Ballhausplatz 2, A-1014 Vienna, AUSTRIA
Get access

Abstract

Recent advances in the biosciences and biotechnology erode confidence in the reliability of the Biological Weapons Convention (1972). During its review conferences (1980, 1986) concerns were expressed as to the military misuse of civil research. Although some improvements were achieved at these conferences, there still exist major deficiencies related to the definition of substances and activities to be controlled, to verification and to cooperation (transfer of technology). It is suggested that in light of the positive international climate an entirely new regime should be built. This endeavor might draw on experience acquired in environmental treaty making. An institution should be entrusted with adapting the scope of the regime (controlled substances and activities) to scientific progress, with monitoring compliance, and with organizing cooperation. Thus would be matched the rigidity of international law with the flexibility required by science and politics.

Type
Articles and Commentaries
Information
Politics and the Life Sciences , Volume 9 , Issue 1: Special Issue: Biotechnology and International Conflict , August 1990 , pp. 37 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Politics and the Life Sciences 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chilaty, D. (1978). Disarmament: A Historical Review of Negotiation and Treaties. Iran National University.Google Scholar
Fischer, (1980). “La Conférence D'examen de la Convention Interdisant les Armes Bacteriologiques ou Toxines,” In Annuaire Francais de Droit International, pp. 89–99Google Scholar
Fraile, R. (1982). La Guerre Biologique et Chimique, le sort d'une interdiction. Paris: Economica.Google Scholar
Gaertner, H. (1989). Challenges of Verification: Smaller States and Arms Control. New York: Institute for East-West Security Studies/Westview Press.Google Scholar
Gasteyger, C. (1986). Les Défis de la Paix. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 153-159.Google Scholar
Geissler, E. ed. (1986). Biological and Toxin Weapons Today. Stockholm Peace Research Institute/Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Geissler, E. ed. (1990). Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention by Confidence Building Measures. Stockholm Peace Research Institute/Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Gilpin, R. (1987). The Political Economy of International Relations. Princeton N.J.: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Gizewski, P., and Barrett, J. (1987). Biological Weapons Control. Canadian Centre for Arms Control and Disarmament.Google Scholar
Keohane, R., and Nye, J. (1989). Power and Interdependence. Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman and Company.Google Scholar
Lang, W. (1983). “Multilateral Disarmament Diplomacy,” In Österr. Zeitschrift für öffentliches Recht und Völker-recht, pp. 25–45.Google Scholar
Lang, W. (1986/87). “Taking the Pulse of the Biological Weapons Regime.” Disarmament 10(1): 44–51.Google Scholar
Lang, W. (1989a). “The Second Review Conference of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.” In Kaufman, J. (ed.), Effective Negotiation, Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 191–203.Google Scholar
Lang, W. (1989b). Internationaler Umweltschutz, Völkerrecht und Aueßnpolitik zwischen Ökonomie und Ökologie. Wien: Orac.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, B. H., and Burck, G. (1989). “Verification of Compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention,” In Wright, S., Preventing a Biological Arms Race. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, pp. 300–329.Google Scholar
Sims, N. A. (1986). Biological and Toxin Weapons, Issues in the 1986 Review. Faraday Discussion Paper No. 7 (The Council for Arms Control).Google Scholar
Sims, N. A. (1988). The Diplomacy of Biological Disarmament, Vicissitudes of a Treaty in Force, 1975-1985. London: Macmillan Press.Google Scholar
Vaerno, O. (1986). “The Forthcoming Biological Weapons Review Conference.” Disarmament 9(2): 211–218.Google Scholar
Young, O. (1989). International Cooperation: Building Regimes for Natural Resources and the Environment. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar