Overview

This thoroughly researched study highlights the international community's failure to regulate contemporary state research, development, marketing and/or deployment of riot control agents and incapacitating chemical agent weapons.

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9781137467133

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Reviews

'Here is a beautiful and meticulously researched text that needs to be read by everyone working for a world finally free of chemical weapons. It is constructed as a case study in 'holistic' arms control, which is a novel and rich approach that calls for a still wider readership.' - Professor Julian Perry Robinson, Harvard Sussex Program on Chemical and Biological Weapons, UK 'Michael Crowley's book is an important contribution to the debate about whether law enforcement use of riot control and incapacitating agents would undermine the prohibition of poison weapons. He places a complicated arms control issue into a broader legal and institutional context, and discusses strategies for dealing with these evolving technologies. A much needed book.' - Dr Ralf Trapp, International Disarmament Consultant and former senior official at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Netherlands 'The development of incapacitating chemical agent based weapons presents a serious threat to the Chemical Weapons Convention. This book explains the importance of transparency on these chemicals, as well as on riot control agents and their means of delivery, and suggests how both types of weapon could be brought under effective international control. This is a pressing task for the OPCW especially in light of recent and repeated use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict.' - Stefan Mogl, Head of Chemistry Division, Spiez Laboratory, Switzerland, and former Chair, OPCW Scientific Advisory Board

“In Chemical Control, Michael Crowley sets out a three-stage holistic approach to arms control, and illustrates it by applying it to the regulation of incapacitating chemical agents and riot control agents and their means of delivery. … Here is a strategy in which biologists can apply their expertise and, as the book demonstrates, it has a good chance of working.” (Professor Malcolm Dando, The Biologist, Vol. 64 (1), February, 2017) “His thoroughly-researched book examines in detail ICA weapons, riot control agents (RCAs) and their means of delivery … . Crowley has not only provided a reference work for policymakers and academics alike, but also a solid framework for structuring debates on the future of disarmament and arms control given thatscience and technology are evolving at a greater speed than the international community can regulate, and that existing treaty regimes can be updated.” (Noel Stott, African Security Review, August, 2016) “Michael Crowley’s Chemical Control is an impressive piece of scholarship and a valuable addition to the literature surrounding use of chemical weapons and riot control agents and their regulation under international law. … this is an excellent book, and … an authoritative reference in the regulation of RCAs and incapacitating chemical agent weapons. It deserves to be widely read and assimilated by lawyers, diplomats, medical professionals, non-governmental organisations, as well as by weapons developers and manufacturers.” (Stuart Maslen, International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 20 (4), March, 2016) “The monograph offers highly technical and detailed information on the nature of riot control and incapacitating agents and their delivery systems, the research and development behind them, where they are being manufactured and how they are traded … . commend him for offering a solid framework for structuring that particular debate on the future of disarmament and arms control and identifying the fundamental assumptions underlying both concepts.” (Jean Pascal Zanders, The Trench, the-trench.org, March, 2016) “Michael Crowley makes a compelling argument that ambiguities surrounding riot-control and incapacitating chemical agents as well as their means of delivery present a threat to both human and international security. … The pragmatic and authoritative approach adopted within this work means that this book will undoubtedly become a reference work for policy shapers and academics for years to come.” (Dr. Brett Edwards, Contemporary Security Policy, contemporarysecuritypolicy.org, February, 2016) “For anyone considering the evolution of the use of chemical substances in different circumstances along with current regulation, Michael Crowley´s book is a must! He tackles the complicated subject of incapacitating chemical agent (ICA) weapons and riot control agents (RCAs). … I recommend this book not just to people interested in the topic professionally, but most importantly to politicians, diplomats and law enforcement institutions. It is also a must for students of international relations and political sciences … .” (CBRNe World, cbrne.com, February, 2016) “Crowley does a good job of structuring his research in a way that helps the reader make sense of the technical aspects of these weapons as well as the complex array of applicable international law. … Crowley’s book is both an invaluable reference and a useful source of new ideas for addressing two problems stemming from the decision by States to prohibit toxicity as a weapon of war while leaving open its use for law enforcement.” (Neil Davison, International Review of the Red Cross, 2016) “This is a timely book, part of a series looking at governance and regulation issues. It provides an unusual case study in what is deemed ‘holistic arms control’: a three-stage process that is systematically explained here. … The power of this essential book is in the detail, and the same painstaking work will be necessary in the months and years ahead to demonstrate how these sub-lethal chemical weapons are being increasingly used to contain inequality and injustice.” (Steve Wright, Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 2016) “Crowley’s new book and analysis is to be highly recommended to all who are interested in building a world free of a whole class of weapons of mass destruction—chemical weapons—and to those seeking to prevent the re-emergence of deadly chemicals. With almost 100 pages of footnotes and sources, Chemical Control is meticulously documented, making it an excellent reference volume for those interested in arms control, disarmament, relevant multilateral treaties and agreements, as well as national and international enforcement.” (Paul F.Walker, Nonproliferation Review, Vol. 22 (3-4), 2015)

Michael Crowley's Chemical Control is an impressive piece of scholarship and a valuable addition to the literature surrounding use of chemical weapons and riot control agents and their regulation under international law. ... this is an excellent book, and ... an authoritative reference in the regulation of RCAs and incapacitating chemical agent weapons. It deserves to be widely read and assimilated by lawyers, diplomats, medical professionals, non-governmental organisations, as well as by weapons developers and manufacturers. (Stuart Maslen, International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 20 (4), March, 2016) The monograph offers highly technical and detailed information on the nature of riot control and incapacitating agents and their delivery systems, the research and development behind them, where they are being manufactured and how they are traded ... . commend him for offering a solid framework for structuring that particular debate on the future of disarmament and arms control and identifying the fundamental assumptions underlying both concepts. (Jean Pascal Zanders, The Trench, the-trench.org, March, 2016) Michael Crowley makes a compelling argument that ambiguities surrounding riot-control and incapacitating chemical agents as well as their means of delivery present a threat to both human and international security. ... The pragmatic and authoritative approach adopted within this work means that this book will undoubtedly become a reference work for policy shapers and academics for years to come. (Dr. Brett Edwards, Contemporary Security Policy, contemporarysecuritypolicy.org, February, 2016) For anyone considering the evolution of the use of chemical substances in different circumstances along with current regulation, Michael Crowley's book is a must! He tackles the complicated subject of incapacitating chemical agent (ICA) weapons and riot control agents (RCAs). ... I recommend this book not just to people interested in the topic professionally, but most importantly to politicians, diplomats and law enforcement institutions. It is also a must for students of international relations and political sciences ... . (CBRNe World, cbrne.com, February, 2016) Crowley does a good job of structuring his research in a way that helps the reader make sense of the technical aspects of these weapons as well as the complex array of applicable international law. ... Crowley's book is both an invaluable reference and a useful source of new ideas for addressing two problems stemming from the decision by States to prohibit toxicity as a weapon of war while leaving open its use for law enforcement. (Neil Davison, International Review of the Red Cross, 2016) This is a timely book, part of a series looking at governance and regulation issues. It provides an unusual case study in what is deemed 'holistic arms control': a three-stage process that is systematically explained here. ... The power of this essential book is in the detail, and the same painstaking work will be necessary in the months and years ahead to demonstrate how these sub-lethal chemical weapons are being increasingly used to contain inequality and injustice. (Steve Wright, Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 2016) Crowley's new book and analysis is to be highly recommended to all who are interested in building a world free of a whole class of weapons of mass destruction-chemical weapons-and to those seeking to prevent the re-emergence of deadly chemicals. With almost 100 pages of footnotes and sources, Chemical Control is meticulously documented, making it an excellent reference volume for those interested in arms control, disarmament, relevant multilateral treaties and agreements, as well as national and international enforcement. (Paul F. Walker, Nonproliferation Review, Vol. 22 (3-4), 2015) 'Here is a beautiful and meticulously researched text that needs to be read by everyone working for a world finally free of chemical weapons. It is constructed as a case study in 'holistic' arms control, which is a novel and rich approach that calls for a still wider readership.' Professor Julian Perry Robinson, Harvard Sussex Program on Chemical and Biological Weapons, UK 'Michael Crowley's book is an important contribution to the debate about whether law enforcement use of riot control and incapacitating agents would undermine the prohibition of poison weapons. He places a complicated arms control issue into a broader legal and institutional context, and discusses strategies for dealing with these evolving technologies. A much needed book.' Dr Ralf Trapp, International Disarmament Consultant and former senior official at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Netherlands 'The development of incapacitating chemical agent based weapons presents a serious threat to the Chemical Weapons Convention. This book explains the importance of transparency on these chemicals, as well as on riot control agents and their means of delivery, and suggests how both types of weapon could be brought under effective international control. This is a pressing task for the OPCW especially in light of recent and repeated use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict.' Stefan Mogl, Head of Chemistry Division, Spiez Laboratory, Switzerland, and former Chair, OPCW Scientific Advisory Board

'Here is a beautiful and meticulously researched text that needs to be read by everyone working for a world finally free of chemical weapons. It is constructed as a case study in 'holistic' arms control, which is a novel and rich approach that calls for a still wider readership.' Professor Julian Perry Robinson, Harvard Sussex Program on Chemical and Biological Weapons, UK 'Michael Crowley's book is an important contribution to the debate about whether law enforcement use of riot control and incapacitating agents would undermine the prohibition of poison weapons. He places a complicated arms control issue into a broader legal and institutional context, and discusses strategies for dealing with these evolving technologies. A much needed book.' Dr Ralf Trapp, International Disarmament Consultant and former senior official at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Netherlands 'The development of incapacitating chemical agent based weapons presents a serious threat to the Chemical Weapons Convention. This book explains the importance of transparency on these chemicals, as well as on riot control agents and their means of delivery, and suggests how both types of weapon could be brought under effective international control. This is a pressing task for the OPCW especially in light of recent and repeated use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict.' Stefan Mogl, Head of Chemistry Division, Spiez Laboratory, Switzerland, and former Chair, OPCW Scientific Advisory Board

Author Information

Dr Michael Crowley is Project Coordinator of Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project, and Research Associate with the Omega Research Foundation. He has worked for over 20 years on arms control and human rights issues, including with Amnesty International, the Arias Foundation, BASIC, and as Executive Director of VERTIC.

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