The Challenge of Chemical Weapons
An American Perspective
Victor A. Utgoff(Author)
Palgrave Macmillan (Publisher)
Published in July 1990
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-333-53142-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book traces through a 100+ year history of evolving chemical weapons technology, public attitudes toward these weapons, attempts to negotiate controls on them, and important instances in which nations chose to use or forego the use of chemical weapons. It then analyzes the potential deterrent role of chemical weapons for NATO, and the political-military roles that chemical weapons might play in the third world. It also profour major challenges arising from chemical and biological weapons. The first is to continue modernizing the West's chemical weapons despite the apparent reduction in the threat posed by the Soviet Union, until a chemical arms control ban can be agreed and implemented. The second challenge is how to cope with the possibility of far more destructive warfare between the rapidly growing number of third world friends and allies that have chemical weapons. The third challenge is gaining global acceptance of a chemical weapons ban given the military and political benefits continuing advance of chemical and biological knowledge and manufacturing technology could eventually give small groups and even individuals the capability to kill everyone on earth.
The greatest challenge of all will be to create institutions and procedures that can head off this frightening prospect.
The greatest challenge of all will be to create institutions and procedures that can head off this frightening prospect.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Basingstoke
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
tables, index
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 148 mm
Weight
490 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-333-53142-6 (9780333531426)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
06/1990
Palgrave Macmillan
€56.99
Available for download
Content
Chemical warfare through world war I; the interwar years; testing strategic deterrence-chemical weapons and world war II; use and non-use of chemical weapons - the post-world war II years; negotiations to control chemical and biological warfare-post-world war II years; changes in chemical/biological weapons technology and public opinion since world war II; Nato's chemical warfare problem today; third world national and insurgent use of chemical and biological weapons; looking to the future; the challenge of chemical weapons - the challenge of chemical deterrence; the challenge of chemical arms control; the challenge implied by chemical arms proliferation; the challenge of easy access to chemical weapons.