The Chemical Weapons Convention: Implementation, Challenges And Opportunities [Paperback]

United Nations (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2006 | ISBN-10: 9280811231 | ISBN-13: 978-9280811230

The most complex and comprehensive disarmament treaty ever to be adopted, the Chemical Weapons Convention is intended to provide robust assurance that chemical weapons will not be developed, produced, stockpiled, used or transferred. To implement and enforce the Convention and verify the ongoing elimination of declared chemical weapons production capacity and stockpiles, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons inspects military and industrial sites in dozens of countries. This book provides an in-depth explanation of the notable achievements of the Chemical Weapons Convention in a relatively short span since 1997, and examines the issues that must be addressed to ensure the regime's continuing vitality in the context of dynamic changes in the security environment, and in science, industry and technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: United Nations University Press (August 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9280811231
• ISBN-13: 978-9280811230
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,708,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Along with her duties as Assistant Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology, Margaret E. Kosal is currently the Co-Director of the Program on Emerging Technology and Security and the Director of the Program on Biological and Chemical Nonproliferation and Counterterrorism within the Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy (CISTP). Kosal's research explores two interrelated areas: reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and understanding the role of emerging technologies for security.

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Kosal was Science and Technology Advisor within the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense (OSD). She also served as the first liaison to the Biological and Chemical Defense Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Kosal received her doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) working on biomimetic nano-structured materials and has lectured nationally and internationally on both technical and international security subjects. In 2000, Kosal co-founded a sensor company, where she led research on biological, chemical, and explosive detection and spearheaded efforts toward the real-world applications of the technology. Previously, Kosal has held positions at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), Northwestern University's Feinburg School of Medicine, the Monterey Institute of International Studies' (MIIS) Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). She has been recognized across the U.S. federal government for her leadership as part of the interagency Nonproliferation and Arms Control Technology Working Group, as DoD representative to the group charged with leading the National Nanotechnology Initiative, and in the NATO Nanotechnology for Defense Working Group. Dr. Kosal is the author of Nanotechnology for Chemical and Biological Defense (Springer Academic, 2009), which explores scenarios and strategies regarding the benefits and potential proliferation threats of nanotechnology and other emerging sciences for international security.

In her spare time, Kosal enjoys hiking, occasional backpacking trips to Colorado 14-ers, and is an avid skydiver with over 1000 jumps from aircraft ranging from helicopters to hot air balloons and jets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Report on the Current State of the Treaty, November 30, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chemical Weapons Convention: Implementation, Challenges And Opportunities (Paperback)

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. It is the last of three conventions or treaties that propose to control weapons of mass destruction (WMD), with the first two intended to control nuclear and biological weapons.

The CWC, being the last of these agreements to go into effect is probably the best written, most strongly enforced of the agreements. It is the only one with on site inspection capability built into the treaty. It became open for signature in 1993 and entered in force on April 29, 1997.

The overwhelming number of nations in the world have signed and ratified the convention. Some dozen states have signed but not yet ratified, i.e. Bahamas, Djibouti, Haiti, etc. Ten states have neither signed or agreed. Some of these: Vanuatu, Barbados, have no chemical industry to speak of and are immaterial. Some of the others: North Korea, Syria are very serious problems.

This book is written by a series of authors that are specialists in various aspects of the convention and present a report on the current state of the treaty.