Experimental secrets : international security, codes, and the future of research / Brian Rappert.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rappert, Brian.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biotechnology--Research--Law and legislation.

Biotechnology.

Biological arms control.

Physical Description:

xvi, 367 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : University Press of America, [2009]

Summary:

Experimental Secrets addresses the unsettling question of recent years about the revolutionary potential of modern biotechnology: might the knowledge being gained be used to further---rather than prevent---the spread of disease? Might the life sciences become the death sciences?

To avert this prospect, many governments as well as medical and science bodies have proposed that scientists should subscribe to new codes of conduct. Experimental Secrets recounts five years of efforts to devise such codes. These initiatives have raised a question of profound significance: Are there limits to what should be known or communicated in the name of security?

To convey the experiences of policy-making, Experimental Secrets offers a marked departure from traditional forms of writing. Through blending of different styles, formats, and points of view, this book seeks to convey a sense of what has been at stake with codes through ways of writing that question the conventions of statecraft, science, and social research.

Contents:

Part I What Code? 1

Dialogue

Absence and Presence 3

Reflections

In Search of a Code 7

On the Wire

Codes of Conduct as a Viral Idea 19

Beginnings 27

Concealing and Revealing

The Rule(s), the Redacted, and the Caviar 33

Composing the Field

Is a Code of Conduct a Good Idea? 47

A Day in May 59

Part II Conversational Troubles 71

Analysis of Analysis

Decisions and Tensions 73

A Thought Mistaken For a Memory

Those Who Would Oppose 83

Performances

It's You 89

Threats, Policies, Codes

-Part 1 95

A "How to..." Guide

Keeping a Conversation Going

-Part 1 101

On the Circuit

Fragments 109

Here, There, and Everywhere 117

Linkages 133

He Said She Said 139

-Part 2 147

Research and Terrorism 151

Auxiliary

Informing 157

On Becoming a Proselytizer? 163

Part III Come and See

Interventions from the Floor 175

What's Going On 181

Is Diplomacy a Lie? 193

What Now, Little Man? 209

-Part 3 225

Footprints 237

Codes as Building? Analysts as Building? 243

What Does It Mean? 253

In Silence 261

Part IV Commitments 263

Direction 265

-Part 2 269

Fracturing 275

Noise/Signal Ratio 287

Killing a Code Softly 295

Cautionary Notes on "What Is It"? 299

Breaks 307

Provocation and Wolves 309

Pessimism and the Sun 317

-Part 4 325

The Event? 329

Part V Endings 333

Newcomer Lessons 335

Secrets and Trust in/of/for/to Networks 339

Keys and Codes 343

Decodings 345

Journey as Destination 355.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780761844754

0761844759

9780761844761

0761844767

OCLC:

318875727