Biotechnology and International Security

Biotechnology refers to the many procedures used to modify living organisms for human purposes, from the cultivation of plants and genetic engineering to biological weapons and biorobots. Today, the R&D in emerging fields of biotechnology, including human enhancement and direct-effect genetic weapons, may very well change the nature of war and international politics. This biotech revolution in military affairs will offer great advantages to the United States and other technologically advanced states, but this raises many new questions of just war and bioethics.This book contextualizes the militarization of biotechnology by examining its strategic uses throughout history, how genetic engineering has changed the nature of bioweapons, and its impact on warfare and security. The book takes a look at a wide array of emerging military applications of biotechnology, to provide a non-technical assessment of how a wide range of technologies are influencing war fighting, international balance of power, and homeland security. Its offers a thorough introduction to bioweapons and biosecurity challenges, along with the resulting ethical and policy dilemmas.