Marching Plague - Softcover

Critical Art Ensemble

Softcover

ISBN 10: 157027178X ISBN 13: 9781570271786

Publisher: Autonomedia, 2006

Synopsis

The sixth Critical Art Ensemble book offers a radical reframing of the rhetoric surrounding germ warfare. After refuting the idea that massive biological attack is a probable future occurrence, the book goes on to argue that biological weapons programs primarily serve the economic interests of the military-security complex, squandering resources needed to fight the massive loss of life each year from emerging infectious diseases. The book also includes two appendices examining the case of the U.S. Justice Department against Steve Kurtz, for which the original manuscript of the book was seized in the state's investigation.

About this title

About the Author

The Critical Art Ensemble is a virtual collective of radical arts theorists and critics, with members scattered throughout North America."

Review

The first draft of this book was seized with other materials under Section 175 of the US Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act expanded by the USA PATRIOT Act. As the book was rewritten, the ensuing Kafkaesque legal and political process unfolding in parallel serve to demonstrate the argument presented within -- that the militarisation of medical institutions and public health policy is at odds with a transparent, comprehensible civil society. Clear, convincing and commanding analysis will guide you through the many ways in which biowarfare programmes have not and cannot secure this nation. Anyone interested in our shared biological future must read this book. -- Natalie Jeremijenko We heard that the FBI and the Justice Department made a ferocious effort to stop the writing of this book, and after reading it we understand why. Marching Plague offers a radical reframing of the discourse surrounding germ warfare. After refuting the idea that massive biological attack is a probable if not a certain future occurrence, Critical Art Ensemble goes on to argue that biological weapons programmes are little more than a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars and medical and health resources that could be better spend fighting the massive loss of life each year from emerging infectious diseases. -- The Yes Men

Edition details

• Publisher: Autonomedia
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 157027178X
• ISBN 13: 9781570271786
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 148