Regulating Human Enhancement Technologies

How to Escape the Problem of Anarchy?

Abstract

This article provides a framework for the global regulation of human enhancement technologies. I argue that competition between states in the international sphere blocks the emergence of a regulatory framework. The reason is international anarchy or the absence of powers that stand above the nation-state. After considering different ways to overcome anarchy—namely international institutions, more amenable relations between democracies and international norms—I rule them out as insufficient. Then, I argue that only a world state can effectively regulate human enhancement technologies. A world state is not a new idea and was already proposed as an answer to, for example, the threat of nuclear annihilation. However, regulating human enhancements provide an even bigger incentive to overcome nationalism.