Chemical and Biological Warfare (A Global Perspective)

Key Chapter Title List

1. Chemical and Biological Weapons Worldwide
2. The Impact of Chemical and Biological Warfare
3. Why Do Terrorists Use Chemical and Biological Weapons?
4. The Future of Chemical and Biological Warfare
5. In Syria, Chemical Weapons Are Being Used
6. In the United States, Bioterrorism Poses a Threat
7. Rhodesia and Syria Used Chemical and Biological Weapons Against Insurgents
8. In Iran and Iraq, Researchers Seek to Help Chemical Warfare Victims
9. Nations May Be Circumventing the Verification Mechanism of the Biological Weapons Convention
10. In the United States, Infrastructure Needs Improvement to Prevent Bioterrorism
11. Is It Possible to Control or Regulate the Weaponization of Biology?
12. Will Syria Continue to Use Chemical Weapons?

Document Introduction

This report collection compiles authoritative analysis and multinational perspectives from around 2020 on the pressing global security issue of Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW). Based on Greenhaven Publishing's book "Global Perspectives: Chemical and Biological Warfare" and related extended materials, this series delves into the current state of CBW proliferation, use cases, strategic motivations, humanitarian impacts, and future governance challenges. The report content primarily focuses on the late 2010s, particularly the frequent use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, the intentions of terrorist organizations (such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State) to acquire weapons of mass destruction, and the compliance and suspected violations of major nations under relevant international treaties.

The report first systematically outlines the global possession status of CBW. Despite international treaties like the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), multiple countries are still suspected of retaining or having developed related capabilities. The document details official statements and international accusations against several countries, including the United States, Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Israel, revealing the complexity and incompleteness of CBW disarmament and verification efforts. The report specifically points out that Syria, despite having declared its chemical weapons stockpile destroyed, has been repeatedly accused of using weapons like sarin and chlorine, severely undermining the authority of the international ban.

Secondly, the report analyzes the actual impact and logic of CBW use through specific cases. Using Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and Syria as examples, it reveals how regimes facing existential crises employ CBW as an "asymmetric" tool against internal insurgents. Its utility lies in combating poorly equipped and trained opponents and can cause significant casualties and panic under specific conditions. Simultaneously, the report details the long-term, devastating health consequences of chemical weapons (particularly sulfur mustard and nerve agents) through the example of research on Iran-Iraq war victims, highlighting the humanitarian disaster nature of such weapons.

The third part deeply analyzes the motivations and possibilities for non-state actors, especially terrorist organizations, to use CBW. The report notes that despite significant technical obstacles in practical operation (especially the effective weaponization of biological weapons), CBW's characteristic of easily inducing extreme fear and social chaos makes it uniquely attractive to terrorists. Al-Qaeda systematically sought nuclear and strategic biological weapons (like anthrax), aiming to cause casualties surpassing the "9/11" event. The Islamic State acquired chemical weapon materials from former regimes in occupied territories and attempted crude chemical weapon attacks. The report also explores the dilemma of "dual-use" research, where biological technological advancements intended for human benefit (such as gene editing CRISPR) could also be maliciously exploited to create more dangerous pathogens.

Finally, the report looks ahead to the future challenges and response strategies for CBW. Key issues include: how to strengthen the enforcement shortcomings of the Biological Weapons Convention due to its lack of a verification mechanism; how to manage the potential security risks of cutting-edge biotechnology research; and how the international community can effectively deter and respond to actions that blatantly violate international norms, like those of Syria. The report argues that mere international treaties and norms often fail when regime survival is threatened. Effective deterrence, political will, and strengthening public health and emergency response infrastructure at national and local levels are crucial for preventing and mitigating the consequences of CBW attacks.

This series integrates diverse perspectives from think tank experts, government officials, scientific researchers, and intelligence analysts, providing researchers and policymakers in the fields of defense security, international relations, public health, and counter-terrorism policy with an in-depth, cutting-edge reference on the current panorama of chemical and biological weapons threats.