Survival nexus : science, technology, and world affairs / Charles Weiss.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Weiss, Charles, author.

Series:

Oxford scholarship online.

Oxford scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Technological innovations--Social aspects.

Technological innovations.

Science--Social aspects.

Science.

Globalization.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (384 pages).

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2022]

Summary:

The impact of science and technology on world affairs is shaped by politics, economics, business, ethics, law, psychology, and culture. This nexus is a neglected aspect of international affairs. It cuts across and unites diverse issues critical to human survival: climate change, global health, nuclear weapons, Internet governance, cybersecurity, jobs, competitiveness, poverty, hunger, and the management of new technologies like autonomous weapons, hypersonic missiles, geoengineering, and gene drivers. Advances in science and technology promise both great benefits and critical threats. Appropriate policies can stimulate and guide scientific and technological advances to create new ways to achieve a healthy environment, sustainable energy systems, equitable growth, full employment, and reduced poverty. This work examines this important topic.

Contents:

Cover

The Survival Nexus

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Author's Preface

1. Introduction: Science, Technology, and Survival

Existential Dangers: Pandemics, Climate Disruption, and Nuclear War

New Technologies Raise Issues of Ethics and Values

A Pervasive but Neglected Dimension

Integrating Science and Technology with World Affairs

The COVID-​19 Pandemic: A Classic Example of the Survival Nexus

Science and Technology are Not the Same Thing

Scientific Models and Scientific Uncertainty

Technological Innovations don't Always Happen by Themselves

Needed: Strengthened Regimes and New Codes of Conduct

Global Responses to Global Problems

2. Stratospheric Ozone: A Success with Complications

The Science Behind the Stratospheric Ozone Issue

The Ozone Hole and the Montreal Protocol

Clear Scientific Evidence Spurs International Action

The Scientific Explanation for the Ozone Hole

Lessons of Success

3. Climate Disruption, Not Just Global Warming

Causes and Effects of Climate Disruption

The Origins of Climate Change

The Damage from Global Warming, Degree by Degree

Greenhouse Gas Budgets and Scenarios

Climate Negotiations Veer from the Model of Stratospheric Ozone

The Framework Convention and the Kyoto Protocol

Market-​Based Mechanisms to Reduce Emissions More Cheaply

Disinformation and Distraction

Institutionalizing Scientific Advice

The Paris Agreement: Voluntary, Individual Country Commitments

The Limitations of Science

4. How Do We Address Climate Disruption?

Transformation in National Energy Systems

Restructuring the Electric Grid

Mitigation by Switching Energy Sources

Fossil fuels

Carbon capture, use, and sequestration

Renewable energy

Energy storage

Nuclear fission

Efficient Energy Use

Agriculture

Urbanization.

Buildings

Transportation

Industry

Adapting to Climate Disruption: Intervene as Well?

So Much to Learn, So Little Time

5. Nuclear Issues: Civilization in the Balance

Instant, Catastrophic Destruction

Mutually Assured Destruction and a Close Brush with Nuclear War

Arms Control: Avoiding Mutual Suicide

Nonproliferation: Fewer Nuclear Countries Make a Safer World

The 1990s: Ups and Downs for Arms Control

Iran and North Korea: The nonproliferation Regime Takes on More than It Can Handle

The Second Nuclear Age: Civilization is Still in the Balance

Lessons from Nuclear Experience

Hypersonic Missiles: Even Shorter Times to React to a Possible Nuclear Attack

Fully Autonomous Weapons: Killing Without Human Involvement

Why Autonomous Weapons? Why Not?

Arms Control for Autonomous Weapons

Can We Handle the Nuclear Future?

Annex A. A Primer on Nuclear Science and Technology

6. Global Health: Security and Inequality

Influenza: the Annual Pandemic Zoonosis

We're All in this Together

Vertical and Horizontal Health Services

The World Health Organization and the Politics of International Cooperation

"Tropical Health": The Colonial and Postcolonial Background

The 1970s: Is Health a Human Right or an Economic Investment?

The 1980s: Tough Times for Global Health

The 1990s: HIV/​AIDS and the Resurgence of Global Health

The 2000s: Improved Response to Pandemics

The Human Right to Health as a Workable Principle

COVID-​19 Brings the Survival Nexus into Stark Relief

Early Chinese and U.S. Responses to the COVID-​19 Pandemic

Newly Developed Vaccines Raise issues of Equity

Annex B. Science and Global Health

7. Globalization and the Burden of Disease

Demographic Transitions and the Quadruple Burden of Disease

Health, Globalization, and Trade.

Bioprospecting and Clinical Testing in Low-​income Countries

Health and Military Security

Who Makes the Decisions Regarding Global Health?

Constructive Tension: Health Security and "Health for All"

8. The Internet and Social Media: Euphoria and Repression

Convenience and Repression

The 1970s and 1980s: Early Euphoria Plants the Seeds of Later Issues

The 1990s: "The Babe That Roared"

2000 and Beyond: the Free Internet Faces Competition

The Chinese Government Masters the Internet

Democracies have Internet Issues, Too

Governance: Who, If Anyone, Will Control the Internet?

A Less Open Internet in the Future?

9. Cyberwarfare and Cybersecurity

Stuxnet and its Aftermath

The Snowden Revelations: The Crown Jewels of U.S. Intelligence spill onto the Table

Challenges to Democratic Values and U.S. Dominance

Arms Control for Cyberweapons?

First Steps Toward Rules of the Road for Cyberconflict

10. Frugal Innovations for the "Bottom of the Pyramid"

Mobile Finance: The Cell Phone Fills a Banking Vacuum

Some Technologies Won't Trickle Down

They Need Special Attention

"Appropriate Technology": Philanthropy Plus Engineering

Can Frugal Technology be a Business Opportunity?

Businesses Without a Profit Motive

"Orphan Technology": A Need but No Market

The Best You Can Afford: The Ethics of Toilets

The CGIAR: Almost 1 Billion a Year for Research for the Small-​scale Farmer

"Digital Green": Localized Videos on Sustainable Agriculture

Technology for the Poor: From Invention to Innovation

11. Jobs, Competitiveness, and Inequality: Up the Down Escalators in Manufacturing

Global Value Chains and Networks

Some Jobs Will be Lost as Productivity Increases, But Others Will be Created

The New Jobs Will Demand Different Skills.

South Korea: A Classic Model of Industrial Development

A Worldwide Scramble to Create Good Jobs

Manufacturing Employment at the Cutting Edge

Manufacturing as a Source of Innovation

A Tougher Path for Low-​ and Middle-​income Countries

The Rise of China

Political Control Versus Technological Innovation in Chinese Industry

The Future of Work

12. New Technologies, New Issues: Gene Drivers and Geoengineering

Gene Drivers: A Technology that Controls Evolution

The Pandora's Box Congress

The Ethics of Do-​it-​yourself Biotechnology

Negative Emissions Technologies

Research Collaboration and Commercial Competition

The Ethics of Climatic Intervention

Responsible Innovation

13. Playing with Fire

Stimulating and Guiding Technological Change

The Rise of Russia and China

Science and Technology as Pervasive Influences on World Affairs

Crossing and Uniting Disciplines

The Questions We Have Been Asking

Norms for Applying Science and Technology to Global Problems

Respect for facts and evolving knowledge

Cooperation and collaboration

Avoiding harm and minimizing risk

Equity, sustainability, and inclusivity

Adding to knowledge and developing technology

Accountability

Ethics are Fundamental

Acknowledgments

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Also issued in print: 2021.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-094628-8

0-19-757194-8