In an age where anthrax can be produced in a garage and multilateral agreements among nations seem ever harder to reach, the threat of biowarfare could rapidly spiral out of control. In this authoritative guide, international expert Malcolm Dando inspects the evidence rarely made available to the public, providing a comprehensive account of what biological weapons are and their prevalence throughout the world. From the history of biowarfare development programmes to the current state of weapons stockpiles, Dando takes care to include what he believes is necessary to reduce the availability and potency of biological agents in the future. Examining the backdrop of legislative wrangling and failed international agreements, this well-argued work interweaves politics and technology to reveal the reality behind this twenty-first century menace.

Table of Contents

Preface Chapter 1. Bioterror: Threat and Response Chapter 2. Biological Warfare before 1945 Chapter 3. Biological Warfare 1945-1972 Chapter 4. Biological Warfare 1972-2004 Chapter 5. Biological Agents Chapter 6. The Impact of the Biotechnology Revolution Chapter 7. Attack Scenarios Today Chapter 8. The Web of Prevention Chapter 9. The Future of Arms Control Chapter 10. Conclusion: The Future? Appendix 1. The Appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: Full Text Appendix 2. The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC): Full Text

About the Author

Malcolm Dando is Professor of International Security at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. He is an elected Fellow of the Institute of Biology and has worked with the British Medical Association, the Ministry of Defence and the United States National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity.

Reviews

"This comprehensive "beginner's guide" is exactly what has been missing up to now." Professor Kathryn Nixdorff, Chair of the INES Working Group on Biological and Toxin Weapons Control.