II. The threats posed by chemical and biological material

Chapter:

10. Reducing security threats from chemical and biological materials

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2010

Author(s):

John Hart, Peter Clevestig

Threat perceptions are less focused on the lethality of CBW agents. The threats posed by chemical and biological material can be categorized as those related to state security, population security and the security of critical infrastructure.² Each involves a distinct threat and policy response: protection of the state, the population and of critical infrastructure. Many of the specific policy responses arose from civil defence against nuclear weapon attack and have since increasingly been extended to include protection against natural disasters, attack by non-state actors and infectious disease outbreaks. When infectious disease is viewed in terms of population security, the intervention strategies may be formulated according to the requirements of prevention. In contrast, when critical infrastructure is the focus, the response strategy concentrates on preparedness.³