Managing biological disarmament: The UK experience

The UK committed itself to biological disarmament under the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Disarmament is not, however, something achieved at a specific point in time; it is a process of constant management of an obligation undertaken. Since 1975, when biological disarmament took effect, implementation of the Convention has altered to address the dynamic nature of threats, changes in political circumstances, and scientific and technological developments. In this article the approach of the UK to the BWC is studied to provide one lens on how a state implements and manages its biological disarmament obligation. Through an examination of the international, regional, and national policies adopted by the UK a process of continuous oversight is identified to deal with external threats from states, internal threats from terrorists, and the coordination of policy with many actors to maintain an effective biological disarmament architecture. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.