21. Keeping Banned Weapons Banned: Deterrence and WMDs

In today's episode, Dr Patricia Shamai (University of Portsmouth) discusses the mechanisms and regulations that the international community have in place to stop the development and spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. While Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) works to stop states from using nuclear weapons against other nuclear armed states, this doesn't apply in the same way against chemical weapons, for instance, that don't necessarily cause the same degree of mass destruction. Dr Shamai points to the stigma that has developed in response to chemical and biological weapons, in particular, which has led to their limited use. However, she also contends that this stigma is being eroded, much to our detriment. So, check this episode out to learn all about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and how the international community can continue to keep the world safe from their devastating effects.