The purpose of this paper is to determine if there is a growing bioterrorism threat. The thesis analyzes the lessons and implications taken from two state program case studies and four examples of terrorists desiring or achieving a biological weapons capability. The second part of the thesis aims to understand the effects of the biotechnology revolution on biological weapons programs. The final chapter uses this analysis to assess terrorists' interest in a biological weapon and determine what motivations exist for a terrorist to target and work towards acquiring a biological weapon. The thesis concludes that there is a growing bioterrorism threat and then provides two paths for policy-makers to take when addressing the threat. Broadly speaking, policy-makers can take steps to prevent terrorists achieving a biological weapons capability or follow a path that prepares the United States to effectively address and mitigate the effects of an attack.
","abstract_html":"<p>The purpose of this paper is to determine if there is a growing bioterrorism threat. The thesis analyzes the lessons and implications taken from two state program case studies and four examples of terrorists desiring or achieving a biological weapons capability. The second part of the thesis aims to understand the effects of the biotechnology revolution on biological weapons programs. The final chapter uses this analysis to assess terrorists' interest in a biological weapon and determine what motivations exist for a terrorist to target and work towards acquiring a biological weapon. The thesis concludes that there is a growing bioterrorism threat and then provides two paths for policy-makers to take when addressing the threat. Broadly speaking, policy-makers can take steps to prevent terrorists achieving a biological weapons capability or follow a path that prepares the United States to effectively address and mitigate the effects of an attack.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kisner, Kimberly Anne"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Bronson"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:23Z","subjects":["biological terrorism","biological weapons","al Qaeda","biotechnology revolution","anthrax","Defense and Security Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":["© Kimberly Anne Kisner"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1371","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Bronson"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kisner, Kimberly Anne"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Defense and Strategic Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["biological terrorism","biological weapons","al Qaeda","biotechnology revolution","anthrax","Defense and Security Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© Kimberly Anne Kisner"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1371"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this paper is to determine if there is a growing bioterrorism threat. The thesis analyzes the lessons and implications taken from two state program case studies and four examples of terrorists desiring or achieving a biological weapons capability. The second part of the thesis aims to understand the effects of the biotechnology revolution on biological weapons programs. The final chapter uses this analysis to assess terrorists' interest in a biological weapon and determine what motivations exist for a terrorist to target and work towards acquiring a biological weapon. The thesis concludes that there is a growing bioterrorism threat and then provides two paths for policy-makers to take when addressing the threat. Broadly speaking, policy-makers can take steps to prevent terrorists achieving a biological weapons capability or follow a path that prepares the United States to effectively address and mitigate the effects of an attack.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Biological Weapons and Terrorism"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Bronson"],"dc:creator":["Kisner, Kimberly Anne"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this paper is to determine if there is a growing bioterrorism threat. The thesis analyzes the lessons and implications taken from two state program case studies and four examples of terrorists desiring or achieving a biological weapons capability. The second part of the thesis aims to understand the effects of the biotechnology revolution on biological weapons programs. The final chapter uses this analysis to assess terrorists' interest in a biological weapon and determine what motivations exist for a terrorist to target and work towards acquiring a biological weapon. The thesis concludes that there is a growing bioterrorism threat and then provides two paths for policy-makers to take when addressing the threat. Broadly speaking, policy-makers can take steps to prevent terrorists achieving a biological weapons capability or follow a path that prepares the United States to effectively address and mitigate the effects of an attack.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1371"],"dc:rights":["© Kimberly Anne Kisner"],"dc:subject":["biological terrorism","biological weapons","al Qaeda","biotechnology revolution","anthrax","Defense and Security Studies"],"dc:title":["Biological Weapons and Terrorism"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Defense and Strategic Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:23Z"}