Secrecy and Science

A Historical Sociology of Biological and Chemical Warfare

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Technology, Military Science
Cover of the book Secrecy and Science by Brian Balmer, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Brian Balmer ISBN: 9781317058380
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 1, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Brian Balmer
ISBN: 9781317058380
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 1, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

It is no secret that twentieth-century Britain was governed through a culture of secrecy, and secrecy was particularly endemic in military research and defence policy surrounding biological and chemical warfare. More generally, it is hard to exaggerate the role of secrecy in all past biological and chemical warfare programmes and several recent historical surveys of biological and chemical warfare research have emphasised that all state sponsored programmes, together with sub-state organised activities, were cloaked in utmost secrecy. Of these research programmes, Britain carried out one of the most significant in scale and scope in the twentieth century. Yet, partly because of the secrecy surrounding the programme, there is still little academic literature on its historical development. Equally, and despite secrecy being a pervasive feature of past and contemporary societies, social scientists and historians have paid relatively little scholarly attention to the nature, mechanics and effects of secrecy, particularly with regard to secrecy in relation to the production and governance of science and technology. Drawing on classical sociological writing on secrecy by Simmel, Merton and Shils this groundbreaking book by Brian Balmer draws on recently declassified documents to investigate significant episodes in the history of biological and chemical warfare. At the same time, it draws on more contemporary perspectives in science and technology studies that understand knowledge and social order as co-produced within heterogeneous networks of 'things and people' in order to develop a theoretical set of arguments about how the relationship between secrecy and science might be understood.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

It is no secret that twentieth-century Britain was governed through a culture of secrecy, and secrecy was particularly endemic in military research and defence policy surrounding biological and chemical warfare. More generally, it is hard to exaggerate the role of secrecy in all past biological and chemical warfare programmes and several recent historical surveys of biological and chemical warfare research have emphasised that all state sponsored programmes, together with sub-state organised activities, were cloaked in utmost secrecy. Of these research programmes, Britain carried out one of the most significant in scale and scope in the twentieth century. Yet, partly because of the secrecy surrounding the programme, there is still little academic literature on its historical development. Equally, and despite secrecy being a pervasive feature of past and contemporary societies, social scientists and historians have paid relatively little scholarly attention to the nature, mechanics and effects of secrecy, particularly with regard to secrecy in relation to the production and governance of science and technology. Drawing on classical sociological writing on secrecy by Simmel, Merton and Shils this groundbreaking book by Brian Balmer draws on recently declassified documents to investigate significant episodes in the history of biological and chemical warfare. At the same time, it draws on more contemporary perspectives in science and technology studies that understand knowledge and social order as co-produced within heterogeneous networks of 'things and people' in order to develop a theoretical set of arguments about how the relationship between secrecy and science might be understood.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Serene Urbanism by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Negotiation Games by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Debates in Modern Philosophy by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Ancient Greek Literary Letters by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Culture and Social Behavior by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Teachers Managing Stress & Preventing Burnout by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Our Lady Cinema by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Knots: Selected Works of RD Laing: Vol 7 by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Using Peer Tutoring to Improve Reading Skills by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book State Crime, Women and Gender by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Control Theories of Crime and Delinquency by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Metapsychological Perspectives on Psychic Survival by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book The Last Trek by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Performing Ethnicity, Performing Gender by Brian Balmer
Cover of the book Hindi Poetry in a Musical Genre by Brian Balmer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy