Core Materials
Risks from Great Power Conflicts - Video with transcript (28:18)
Legal Priorities Project Research Agenda, 5.2.1 at p. 71, 5.2.1 Global Cooperation
Reducing global catastrophic biological risks (GCBRs), stop at “How to Help” (35 min)
Learning to deal with dual use (5 min)
Gaps in international governance of dual-use research of concern (35 min), (focus on pages 1–8)
Optional reading
Jurisprudential Space Junk Treaties and New Technologies - skim to consider anecdotes on whether international law has any independent force
Research agenda, Legal Priorities Project, 5.1.8 at p. 67, Flexible and Clear Regulatory Approach
Discussion Questions
Which potential great power conflicts are most concerning from an EA perspective?
How concerned should we be about the potential for AI and other technologies to exacerbate the threat of biological/nuclear risks and conflict generally? Why?
What challenges do new technologies pose when crafting laws and designing institutions at the early stages of their development?
Does “international law” as it exists today have any independent force vs e.g. existing norms, alternative means of pursuing interests, reputational concerns? What are some alternatives to current approaches?
How do biological risks differ from nuclear, chemical, or AI risks? How are the development and power of those industries similar and different? What are the implications for regulation, monitoring and enforcement?
What international governance mechanisms exist to mitigate biological risks (e.g., Gaps in International Governance)? What are the gaps, the benefits and limitations of these mechanisms?