New Publication Examines Governance Structures for Reducing Risks Posed by Dual-Use Technologies

A new publication released by the Academy’s Global Nuclear Future Initiative, Governance of Dual-Use Technologies: Theory and Practice, explores the legal frameworks for the regulation of nuclear, biological, and information technologies. Edited by Elisa D. Harris, Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland, the publication examines the similarities and differences between the strategies used for the control of nuclear technologies and those proposed for biological and information technologies.

The term dual-use characterizes technologies that can have both military and civilian applications. Some of the questions addressed in Governance of Dual-Use Technologies include: What is the state of current efforts to control the spread of nuclear, biological, and cyber technologies that can simultaneously advance social and economic well-being and also be harnessed for hostile purposes? What have previous efforts to govern nuclear and biological weapons taught us about the potential for the control of these dual-use technologies? What are the implications for governance when the range of actors who could cause harm with these technologies include not just national governments but also non-state actors?

This publication highlights the challenges that are concomitant with dual-use governance. For example, general agreement exists internationally on the need to restrict access to technologies that enable the development of nuclear weapons. However, no similar consensus exists in the biological and information technology domains. The volume also explores the limitations of military measures like deterrence, defense, and reprisal in preventing globally available biological and information technologies from being misused.

Governance of Dual-Use Technologies: Theory and Practice is available on the Academy’s website at http://www.amacad.org/dualuse. For more information about the Global Nuclear Future Initiative, please visit https://www.amacad.org/gnf.