Syria and the chemical weapons taboo : exploiting the forbidden / Michelle Bentley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bentley, Michelle, author.

Series:

New approaches to conflict analysis

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chemical warfare--Syria.

Chemical warfare.

International relations.

Syria--History--Civil War, 2011-.

Syria.

History.

Syria--Foreign relations--United States.

United States--Foreign relations--Syria.

United States.

Diplomatic relations.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

ix, 179 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2016.

Summary:

In this bold study, Michelle Benttey analyses the role of chemical weapons in the Syria crisis, particularly in relation to US foreign policy. The use and ostensible rejection of such weapons by the Syrian government had an enormous influence on America's response to the conflict - a clear example of the power of the 'chemical taboo'. But while it seems only reasonable to condemn chemical warfare wherever it occurs, Bentley exposes two aspects of the taboo that are deeply troubling. Firstly, the Syria crisis saw the United States employ the chemical taboo strategically to advance its own self-interested policy objectives. This is a new conceptualisation of the taboo, not as a principle of normative adherence but as a strategic and malleable political resource. Secondly, Bentley argues that applying the taboo to Syria has in fact exacerbated the crisis by creating a false sense of progress and erroneously legitimising the Assad regime. Serving as both a timely analysis of the situation in Syria and a major, original rethink of the chemical taboo and international norms more generally, Syria and the chemical weapons taboo will be of great interest to students and scholars of international security, international relations and political language. Book jacket.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. The chemical weapons taboo

pt. I A strategic taboo

2. Setting the redline

3. Ghouta and ideological innovation

4. Obama's taboo

pt. II A failed taboo

5. Chemical weapons and false hierarchies

6. Escalating the crisis.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-173) and index.

ISBN:

9781526104717

1526104717

9781526104724

1526104725

OCLC:

959272417