The Survival Nexus: Science, Technology, and World Affairs

385 Pages·2021·2.54 MB·English

by  Charles Weiss

The Survival Nexus

The Survival Nexus
Science, Technology, and World Affairs
CHARLES WEISS
1
3
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers
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Press in the UK and certain other countries.
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
© Charles Weiss 2022
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Weiss, Charles, author.
Title: The Survival Nexus : Science, Technology, and World Affairs/Charles Weiss.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2022 |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021016619 (print) | LCCN 2021016620 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780190946265 (hardback) | ISBN 9780190946289 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Technological innovations—Social aspects. |
Science—Social aspects. | Globalization.
Classification: LCC HM846 .W45 2021 (print) | LCC HM846 (ebook) |
DDC 303.48/3—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021016619
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021016620
DOI: 10.1093/ oso/ 9780190946265.001.0001
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America
To Edie

Contents
Author’s Preface xi
1. Introduction: Science, Technology, and Survival 1
Existential Dangers: Pandemics, Climate Disruption,
and Nuclear War 1
New Technologies Raise Issues of Ethics and Values 2
A Pervasive but Neglected Dimension 4
Integrating Science and Technology with World Affairs 6
The COVID- 19 Pandemic: A Classic Example of
the Survival Nexus 7
Science and Technology are Not the Same Thing 8
Scientific Models and Scientific Uncertainty 9
Technological Innovations don’t Always
Happen by Themselves 10
Needed: Strengthened Regimes and New Codes of Conduct 12
Global Responses to Global Problems 13
2. Stratospheric Ozone: A Success with Complications 15
The Science Behind the Stratospheric Ozone Issue 17
The Ozone Hole and the Montreal Protocol 18
Clear Scientific Evidence Spurs International Action 20
The Scientific Explanation for the Ozone Hole 21
Lessons of Success 22
3. Climate Disruption, Not Just Global Warming 24
Causes and Effects of Climate Disruption 24
The Origins of Climate Change 27
The Damage from Global Warming, Degree by Degree 30
Greenhouse Gas Budgets and Scenarios 32
Climate Negotiations Veer from the Model of
Stratospheric Ozone 34
The Framework Convention and the Kyoto Protocol 35
Market- Based Mechanisms to Reduce Emissions More Cheaply 36
Disinformation and Distraction 38
Institutionalizing Scientific Advice 40
The Paris Agreement: Voluntary, Individual
Country Commitments 42
The Limitations of Science 45
viii Contents
4. How Do We Address Climate Disruption? 47
Transformation in National Energy Systems 48
Restructuring the Electric Grid 49
Mitigation by Switching Energy Sources 50
Fossil fuels 51
Carbon capture, use, and sequestration 51
Renewable energy 53
Energy storage 53
Nuclear fission 56
Efficient Energy Use 59
Agriculture 59
Urbanization 60
Buildings 61
Transportation 61
Industry 62
Adapting to Climate Disruption: Intervene as Well? 62
So Much to Learn, So Little Time 63
5. Nuclear Issues: Civilization in the Balance 67
Instant, Catastrophic Destruction 67
Mutually Assured Destruction and a Close Brush
with Nuclear War 69
Arms Control: Avoiding Mutual Suicide 71
Nonproliferation: Fewer Nuclear Countries Make a Safer World 74
The 1990s: Ups and Downs for Arms Control 77
Iran and North Korea: The Nonproliferation Regime
Takes on More than It Can Handle 80
The Second Nuclear Age: Civilization is Still in the Balance 82
Lessons from Nuclear Experience 85
Hypersonic Missiles: Even Shorter Times to React to a
Possible Nuclear Attack 86
Fully Autonomous Weapons: Killing Without Human Involvement 88
Why Autonomous Weapons? Why Not? 89
Arms Control for Autonomous Weapons 91
Can We Handle the Nuclear Future? 92
Annex A. A Primer on Nuclear Science and Technology 95
6. Global Health: Security and Inequality 103
Influenza: The Annual Pandemic Zoonosis 105
We’re All in this Together 106
Vertical and Horizontal Health Services 108
The World Health Organization and the Politics of
International Cooperation 109
“Tropical Health”: The Colonial and Postcolonial Background 111
The 1970s: Is Health a Human Right or an Economic Investment? 112
Contents ix
The 1980s: Tough Times for Global Health 115
The 1990s: HIV/A IDS and the Resurgence of Global Health 116
The 2000s: Improved Response to Pandemics 118
The Human Right to Health as a Workable Principle 119
COVID- 19 Brings the Survival Nexus into Stark Relief 121
Early Chinese and U.S. Responses to the COVID-1 9 Pandemic 123
Newly Developed Vaccines Raise Issues of Equity 126
Annex B. Science and Global Health 128
7. Globalization and the Burden of Disease 143
Demographic Transitions and the Quadruple Burden of Disease 144
Health, Globalization, and Trade 145
Bioprospecting and Clinical Testing in Low-i ncome Countries 148
Health and Military Security 149
Who Makes the Decisions Regarding Global Health? 151
Constructive Tension: Health Security and “Health for All” 153
8. The Internet and Social Media: Euphoria and Repression 155
Convenience and Repression 156
The 1970s and 1980s: Early Euphoria Plants the Seeds of Later Issues 157
The 1990s: “The Babe That Roared” 160
2000 and Beyond: The Free Internet Faces Competition 162
The Chinese Government Masters the Internet 163
Democracies have Internet Issues, Too 166
Governance: Who, If Anyone, Will Control the Internet? 168
A Less Open Internet in the Future? 170
9. Cyberwarfare and Cybersecurity 173
Stuxnet and its Aftermath 173
The Snowden Revelations: The Crown Jewels of U.S. Intelligence
Spill onto the Table 176
Challenges to Democratic Values and U.S. Dominance 178
Arms Control for Cyberweapons? 183
First Steps Toward Rules of the Road for Cyberconflict 185
10. F rugal Innovations for the “Bottom of the Pyramid” 188
Mobile Finance: The Cell Phone Fills a Banking Vacuum 189
Some Technologies Won’t Trickle Down; They Need Special Attention 191
“Appropriate Technology”: Philanthropy Plus Engineering 194
Can Frugal Technology be a Business Opportunity? 195
Businesses Without a Profit Motive 197
“Orphan Technology”: A Need But No Market 199
The Best You Can Afford: The Ethics of Toilets 200
The CGIAR: Almost $1 Billion a Year for Research for the
Small- scale Farmer 202
“Digital Green”: Localized Videos on Sustainable Agriculture 210
Technology for the Poor: From Invention to Innovation 210