The Molecularisation of Security: Medical Countermeasures, Stockpiling and the Governance of Biological Threats

Description

This book investigates the way that the molecular sciences are shaping contemporary security practices in relation to the governance of biological threats. In response to biological threats, such as pandemics and bioterrorism, governments around the world have developed a range of new security technologies, called medical countermeasures, to protect their populations. This book argues that the molecular sciences’ influence has been so great that security practices have been molecularised. Focusing on the actions of international organisations and governments in the past two decades, this book identifies two contrasting conceptions of the nature or inherent workings of molecular life as driving this turn. On the one hand, political notions of insecurity have been shaped by the contingent or random nature of molecular life. On the other, the identification of molecular life’s constant biological dynamics supports and makes possible the development and stockpiling of effective medical countermeasures. This study is one of the few to take seriously the conceptual implications that the detailed empirical workings of biotechnology have on security practices today. This book will be of much interest to students of security studies, bio-politics, life sciences, global governance, and International Relations in general. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1 Introduction: The Molecular Vision of Life, Medical Countermeasures and (In)security Medical Countermeasures: a Novel Security Technology The Molecular Vision of Life Molecular Technologies and Techniques – Visualisation and Manipulation Medical Countermeasure Development and Government Support The Molecularisation of Security The Structure of this Book Note 2 Contingency, Insecurity and the Visualisation of Life at the Molecular Level Security, Circulation and Contingency Contingent Molecular Life, Insecurity and Political Uncertainty Biopolitical Security Studies and Contingent Molecular Life DNA and the Structure of Molecular Life Contingent Bacterial Evolution and X-Rays X-ray Technology and the Structure of Molecular Life Antibiotics: Our Greatest Medical Treasure The Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance Ribosomes and Tetracycline Resistance Contingent Viral Evolution and Gene Mapping Mapping Viral Evolution Visualising and Mapping Adamantine Resistance Conclusion Notes 3 Preparedness and Governmental Support for Medical Countermeasure Development Preparedness and the Value of Medical Countermeasures The Swine Flu Fiasco: From Prevention to Preparedness The Dual-Purpose Argument The Smallpox Vaccination Programme BARDA and the Shift to Flexible Biodefence BARDA’s Broad-Spectrum Therapeutics Beyond Vaccines – Antitoxins Beyond Vaccines – Antivirals Project BioShield, BARDA and Support for Private Industry Project BioShield and Support for Private Industry Project BioShield and the VaxGen Failure BARDA’s Advanced Development Support BARDA’s Financial Support BARDA’s Technical Support BARDA’s Contracting Support International Support for Medical Countermeasures CEPI CARB-X Conclusion 4 Constant Biological Dynamics, Immunology and Magic Bullets Smallpox, the Population and Its Constant Biological Dynamics The Biological Dynamics of the Population The Inherent Naturalness and Regularity of Biological Dynamics Governing Through Natural Regularities Operational Logics and the General and the Specific Immunology, Germ Theory and Serotherapy Immunology, Antibodies and the Germ Theory of Disease Chemotherapy and Magic Bullets The Immunochemical and Immunobiological Paradigms Monoclonal Antibodies and Molecular Specificity Monoclonal Antibodies and Molecular Specificity Phage Display Techniques Transgenic Mice Drug Design and Molecular Specificity Early Drug Discovery Modern Drug Discovery Genomics, Proteomics and the Human Genome Structure-based Drug Design Conclusion Notes 5 Process Biology and Medical Countermeasures to Combat Viral and Bacterial Threats Taxonomy, Evolution and Process Biology Darwin’s Evolutionary Challenge Process Biology and Molecular Life Metabolic Turnover, Life Cycles and Ecological Interrelations Viral Evolution, Serial Passage and Vaccines Medical Countermeasures to Combat Viral Threats Pandemic Influenza COVID-19 Ebola Smallpox Medical Countermeasures to Combat Bacterial Threats Anthrax Botulism Conclusion Note 6 Conclusion: Rendering the Future Disease Threat Constant, Manipulable and Governable Bibliography Index