Abstract
Fears of malicious non-state actors and rapidly evolving, yet potentially dangerous research in life sciences have motivated many governments to address the risk that science would be misused for hostile purposes. In order to secure the production and circulation of dangerous material, technology, as well as scientific knowledge, new security practices are introduced in science.
Drawing on International Political Sociology, critical social theory, and science and technology studies, this paper aims to analyse this emerging governance of scientific research and critically reflect on what implications this new science-security nexus have for the politics of (in)security. The paper finds that security measures are integrated into the scientific field mostly through reframing the principles of scientific ethics and expanding the vision of 'responsible research'.
Scientists are encouraged to commit to this vision, follow 'good research practices', and weight the benefits of their research against its potential societal costs and risks, all of which may significantly shape the culture and power relations in academia. The paper suggests that the emerging practices exemplify a new model of governance based on 'ethicalization' of security, under which normal and exceptional policies are mixed, yet exceptionality is justified by ethical as well as security considerations.