The Role of Biological Weapons in International Politics: The Real Military Revolution

This article analyzes the role of biological weapons in international politics. In order to understand why states might want these weapons, I examine the utility of biological weapons as counterforce weapons on the battlefield as well as their ability to serve as a strategic deterrent. I argue that despite recent scientific advances, biological weapons are not well suited to battlefield use. Instead, it is the ability of biological weapons to serve as a strategic deterrent that make them attractive to states. Although there is greater uncertainty about the effects of a biological attack than there is about the effects of a nuclear attack, I argue that the potential destructiveness of a biological attack is great enough to compensate; even a small probability of a successful retaliatory strike with biological weapons should deter an attack on a state's vital interests. This ability of biological weapons to serve as a strategic deterrent has important implications for international politics. In particular, the spread of biological weapons may lead to a 'biological revolution' comparable to the nuclear revolution that occurred among the major nuclear powers.