Chemical Control ― Regulation of Incapacitating Chemical Agent Weapons, Riot Control Agents and Their Means of Delivery

This detailed and insightful study concerns contemporary state research, development, marketing and deployment of weapons that employ two distinct classes of toxic chemicals: riot control agents (commonly known as tear gases) and incapacitating chemical agents (calmatives). Dr Crowley highlights the failings of the international community to effectively regulate these agents and associated means of delivery, and stresses the impact of such failure on human rights and human security. By employing an innovative 'holistic arms control' (HAC) methodology, the author explores the full range of regulatory mechanisms and international law potentially applicable to such agents in order to develop effective routes to combat their proliferation and misuse. In addition to state-centric controls, the increasingly important roles that can and should be played by the scientific and medical communities, as well as by informed and activist civil society, are explored.

Dr Michael Crowley is Project Coordinator of the Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project, and is also a Senior Research Associate with the Omega Research Foundation. He has worked for nearly 20 years on arms control, security and human rights issues, including with Amnesty International, the Arias Foundation, BASIC and as Executive Director of the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC).