Bioterrorism and microbiological developments in international relations in the 21st century

As national security strategies begin to be reevaluated, terrorist organizations continue to improve and update their weapons. One of these weapons is a biological weapon. Particularly after the September 11th attacks, the world witnessed a significant increase in scientific knowledge and weapons capabilities due to the ease of information sharing. This sharing of information also increases the threat posed by individuals and organizations seeking to terrorize the world. Terrorist organizations like ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) continue to exploit the effects of globalization and information sharing to spread fear globally. A potential attack with biological agents is difficult to comprehend given the severity of their impact. Attacks with these weapons can transform even the most ordinary actions (such as shaking hands and breathing) into "poisons that can potentially cause a horrific death."The growing fear of biological weapons use in international relations has compelled states to develop various strategies to mitigate this threat. This thesis aims to compile information on microbiological agents that can be used as biological weapons, based on current knowledge, and to highlight their significance for international relations.