The Story of Technology: How We Got Here and What the Future Holds

by Daniel M. Gerstein

contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.27 Finally, the Wassenaar Arrangement seeks to gain greater transparency and responsibility “in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.”28 Other international efforts provide mechanisms for countering proliferation of WMD capabilities. Examples include the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)29 and Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT). PSI provides increased international cooperation in interdicting shipments of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials. Specifically, PSI assists partner nations in training for interdiction of transfers of suspected WMD capabilities, supports in strengthening national laws and promoting information exchange, and seeks to reduce proliferation by providing training support for combating illicit networks. GICNT is designed to “prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear terrorism.”30 Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) are helping to protect populations from emerging infectious disease, feed them, and improve their quality of life. The exchange of scientific and technical capacity underpins the efforts of all of these organizations.31 INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND LAWS International treaties and laws seek to limit certain behaviors, activities, and weapons types through the development of legally bin...