A short 15 min presentation outlining what bioweapons are, what the risk of an attack is, what measures are in place, and why there is still political attention afforded to bioweapons. Risk society is explained. This was in preparation for a paper. NO BIBIOGRAPHY!

1. Why has Political Attention
to Bioweapons Increased?
Katie Burke

2. Contents
“Why has Political Attention to Bioweapons Increased?”
Context of a post-9/11 world
What are bioweapons?
Is there a risk of a bioweapon attack?
What measures have been put into place by
Governments?
Why put these measures in place?
What is a risk society?

3. Context - Post 9/11
Globalisation
Increased availability of knowledge and communication
Crime also benefits from advancements
Absence of effective governance - internet (Wagley 2006)
‘New’ Terrorism: “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against
noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents” (US Federal
Government)
Global reach
Innovative tactics
Diffused networks
Strong ideology (Zedner, 2010)

4. What do you think
bioweapons are?

6. –UN (2014)
“Biological weapons are complex systems that
disseminate disease-causing organisms or toxins to
harm or kill humans, animals or plants.”
-WHO (1970)
“Biological agents include those that depend for
their effects on multiplication within the target
organism, and are intended for use in war to cause
disease or death in man, animals or plants.”
Bioweapons

7. –CDC (2007)
“The deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents)
used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants.”
“A biological attack is the intentional release of a pathogen…
against humans, plants, or animals. An attack against people could
be used to cause illness, death, fear, societal disruption, and
economic damage. An attack on agricultural plants and animals
would primarily cause economic damage, loss of confidence in the
food supply, and possible loss of life..”
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2004)
Bioterrorism

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JJ3hBd_Njs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-X_dVSuwE

9. Is there a Risk of a Bioweapon Attack?
Overall very little risk
Two types of weapon: Weapon of Mass Destruction(/Death) and Terror
Weapon
Norm against WMD from state-actors particularly because of BWC
Terrorists interested but there’s a belief it will hurt their political agenda
(recruitment) and there is a better return on explosives
“Biological terror seems particularly difficult for people” (Lentzos 2014)
Biothreat greater than a nuclear attack due to accessibility of material
Need for highly skilled individual(s) but no need for biodefence lab
Fear of complacency

10. What measures are in place?
National - USA Focus
Bioterrorism Act 2002
Bioterrorism Hospital
Preparedness Program
(HPP)
Proposed Model State
Emergency Health Powers
Act 2001 (MSEHPA 2001)
CDC and Homeland
Security Guidelines
International
UN
1925 Geneva Procol
Biological Weapons
Convention (BWC) 1972
WHO
Australia Group
EU - AniBioThreat

11. Given that there is a low risk why have
these measures been put into place?

12. Risk Society (Ulrich Beck)
It is about what might be happening - not what the risk actually is.
Risk vs. Catastrophe
Known risks, unknown risks, unknown-unknown risks
Risk society is within Dillon’s (1996) “politics of (in)security”
Increasingly about managing risk - requires action
Absence of perceived danger in future equally about faulty risk assessment
and successful risk management
Lupton - governmental strategy for regulating power by monitoring and
managing populations
Translational responses are the only effective responses

13. Thank you for listening