This book analyses the Syria crisis and the role of chemical weapons, in relation to US foreign policy. The Syrian government's use of chemical weapons and their subsequent elimination would dominate the US' response to the conflict, where these are viewed as particularly horrific arms - arepulsion known as the chemical taboo. On the surface, this would seem to be an appropriate reaction: these are nasty weapons and eradicating them would ostensibly comprise a "good" move. But this book reveals two new aspects of the taboo that challenge this prevailing view. First, actors use thetaboo strategically to advance their own self-interested policy objectives. Second, that applying the taboo to Syria has actually exacerbated the crisis. As such, this book not only provides a timely analysis of Syria, but also a major and original rethink of the chemical taboo, as well asinternational norms more widely. | Syria and the chemical weapons taboo by Michelle Bentley, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters