This thesis is an examination of the relationship between the institutional and practical workings of the late Apartheid state's Chemical and Biological Weapons Research Programme, code-named Project Coast. It is written against the background of the changing nature of the South African state in that period, and presents a partial picture of that change. The greatest part of the thesis, however, is a history of the Research Programme itself. The Programme's institutional structure was developed around the charismatic figure of Dr Wouter Basson: following Weberian arguments, it is clear that his charisma was used, within the bureaucratic structure of the Programme, to legitimate the scientific research projects undertaken. Two of these projects are examined in the body of this thesis: the first of these is an attempt to develop a new form of tear gas, the second is the attempt to develop a new form of contraceptive. The animating ideologies of these research projects are compared to each other, and to the supposedly hegemonic ideologies of the changing state, revealing discrepancies between these grand structures and their local workings. The importance of Basson's charismatic authority is emphasised by the rapid dissolution of Project Coast following his withdrawal from his leadership position at the end of the 1980s. By the end of the thesis, then, it seems clear that, within the legitimating aura of Basson's authority, the scientists at Project Coast developed a set of racial and political ideologies that more little to no substantive relationship to the seemingly hegemonic ideologies of the late Apartheid state, of which Project Coast was an organ. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Thesis (MEngTestandEvaluation)--University of South Australia, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2006. / Title from v.1 t.p. (viewed Apr. 20, 2009). "UMI number: 3218417." Includes bibliographical references (p. 582-609). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-137).

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Defense Decision-Making and Planning))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Daniel J. Moran. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-101). Also available online.

No description available.

This thesis addresses the role of education to mitigate the risks of deliberate disease, including biological weapons. Specifically, it aims to analyse how education was constructed as a potential instrument to mitigate specific security risks; if and how education could impact on risks; and how effectiveness of education as a risk mitigation measure could be improved. The research framework combines concepts of security, risk and education within a general constructionist approach. Securitization is used to analyse attempts to construct education as a tool to mitigate specific security risks; risk assessment is used to identify and characterize risk scenarios and potential for risks mitigation; and instructional design and evaluation models are used for the design and evaluation of education. The thesis contends that education has been constructed as a mitigation tool for what were presented as urgent security risks of deliberate disease. Nine attempted securitization moves are identified and assessed. Improved competences identified in four thematic areas, and built with education, can mitigate risks in specific scenarios via impacting factors that primarily influence risk likelihood. The thesis presents several examples of achieved learning objectives, and tools that can be useful to evaluate behavioural and risk impacts, though empirical results on these levels here are still scarce. Design and evaluation tools, illustrated through a large amount of original and pre-existing data from a range of countries and contexts, are presented that can improve effectiveness of education as a deliberate disease risks mitigation measure.

Currently, although we are not jeopardized by global conflicts, but when the threat of chemical or biological attack, especially from the side of some of terrorist groups or a belligerent state, is still real, it is necessary to use all possible available measures for the conservation of global security against conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. The aim of this thesis is the following: To analyze texts of both stated Conventions and thus to get a consolidated view on the issue of biological and chemical weapons from the legislative point of view. To obtain, on the basis of the analysis and systematic comparison of particular provisions, an overview of identical and different elements in both Conventions. On the basis of results of the mutual comparison of particular provisions of both Conventions, to assess, according to their versions, meaning and extent, the influence on performance of both Conventions. After meeting these objectives it was possible to provide an answer to the stated research question: Are the measures formulated in international Conventions on the Prohibition of Biological and Chemical weapons sufficient in their importance, versions and extent, including the effective control? For the purpose of this thesis, theoretical part is focused especially on defining biological and chemical weapons and effective warfare agents. Furthermore, in order to obtain the idea of the importance of existence of international Conventions on the Prohibition of Biological and Chemical Weapons there is given a brief history of the use of these weapons in armed conflicts and a history accompanying negotiations regarding their prohibition. For completeness, the current state of biological and chemical weapons and compliance with both Conventions are given in conclusion. Second part of the thesis is devoted to the analysis and comparison of texts of both Conventions, so objectives of the thesis could be achieved and the research question could be answered. Stated objectives were achieved with the assistance of methods of the qualitative research. After detailed analysis of both texts and systematic assessment of individual measures contained in them, there were detected especially the range and overall text of each Convention. Subsequently, identical and different articles were mutually compared in order to observe the differences, which could have an impact on the performance of both conventions. After overall review of compliances and differences, and after the assessment of the scale, version and meaning of particular different provisions, the research question could be answered, and at the same time basic recommendations, whose importance may represent means to more efficient implementation of individual provisions of Conventions, could be defined. On the basis of results of comparison of particular provisions of both Conventions, in response to the research question it is necessary to state, that actions formulated in CWC, including its Annexes, appear to be sufficient for compliance with arising obligations. While measures contained in BWC, in particular in terms of the absence of any control measures, which could be used as an effective feedback regarding the implementation of provisions of the Convention, optionality to declare information on activities unrestricted by the Convention and inaccurate definition of components seem to be insufficient in its version, extent and meaning for this purpose. Essential reformation regarding the implementation of the objectives of BWC would be adoption of a complex of control measures according to the design of CWC, which has major impact on the objectives of the Convention. Proposed completion of existing articles, in case of which the change in wording would extend the scope of their versions and increase the emphasis on some areas of contained provisions for more efficient implementation of the Convention, may be also beneficial.

Nuclear weapons remain salient to international security and stability given their continued existence within the strategic context of interstate relations, as well as their continued proliferation to state actors and potentially to non-state actors. Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia have dramatically reduced their nuclear arsenals; however, the U.S and Russia today still have the large majority of the world's nuclear inventory, with thousands of nuclear weapons each and plans to maintain these large stockpiles. The central question of this study is-how does one reconcile the size and continued existence of the U.S. nuclear arsenal with U.S. nonproliferation policy and the U.S. commitment to pursue nuclear disarmament? This study's primary argument is that a nuclear-armed state can craft a weapons policy involving nuclear posture and force structure that balances the requirements of nuclear deterrence with nuclear nonproliferation objectives and eventual nuclear disarmament, and that the U.S. has imperfectly pursued such a balanced nuclear weapons policy since the end of the Cold War. This study's primary policy recommendations are that the U.S. nuclear arsenal can be reduced further and the U.S. can modify its nuclear posture to limit the role of nuclear weapons; such nuclear weapons policy changes that limit the mission and size of U.S. nuclear forces would demonstrate genuine commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and progress towards nuclear disarmament, while also maintaining a strategic deterrence capability for the foreseeable future. The pursuit of a balanced nuclear weapons policy will allow the U.S. to function as a genuine actor to positively influence the international nuclear environment towards a potentially nuclear-free world. Ultimately, global nuclear disarmament will likely require major developments within the international system, including the solving of the world's major security issues.

No description available.