Governance of Biotechnology in Post-Soviet Russia

This book provides an up-to-date analysis of the governance of biotechnology in post-Soviet Russia. The rapid advancement of the life sciences over the past few decades promises to bring tremendous benefits, but also raises significant social, ethical, legal, and security risks. Nations’ adaptability to the twin challenges of attempting to secure the benefits while reducing the risks and threats is a large and still burgeoning governance challenge.

Here, Novossiolova cuts across several sets of literature, bringing together elements of the anthropological study of culture; history of science and technology; management and international governance; and Soviet history and politics. Due to its multidisciplinary approach, in-depth analysis, accessible style, and extensive reference list, this text offers invaluable insights into the normative dimensions of the governance of biotechnology, unpacking both the formal and intangible attributes and artefacts of biotechnology policy and practice in Russia.

“The governance of the life sciences at a time of rapid biotechnological change is particularly relevant in the area of biological weapons. This book is especially timely in examining the transition from the Soviet to the post-Soviet era in Russia, not least in terms of management inertia and its impact on the understanding of bioweapon risks.” (Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies, Bradford University, UK)

“This book examines the approaches adopted internationally to address biosafety and biosecurity in the life sciences over the past few decades, paying particular attention to how governance in Russia has developed. Novossiolova demonstrates that there is an inertia in Russia – arising from a persistence of Soviet-style institutional and infrastructural legacies – which today adds up to a missed opportunity. Whilst this book specifically addresses the situation in Russia, the analysis and conclusions reached should be used by all countries to ensure that the governanceof life sciences today is indeed effective to assure biosafety and biosecurity for all of us. It should be read by all those responsible in government, academia and industry for effective biosecurity and biosafety.” (Graham S. Pearson, University of Bradford, UK and former (1984-1995) Director-General, Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, UK)

Tatyana Novossiolova  is a Wellcome Trust Scholar at the Division of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK. She is a co-editor of the Global Partnership-funded Guide, Preventing Biological Threats: What Can You Do, and an author of the Biological Security Education Handbook: The Power of Team-Based Learning.