An Introduction to Technology and War
"Advancements" in military technology over time have enabled countries to kill quickly, with pinpoint precision, and on a massive scale from thousands of miles away. Today, emerging technologies also empower state and non-state actors to use lethal force via remote control and may even allow machines to kill autonomously. While once the purview of science fiction, lethal autonomous weapons systems–––sometimes referred to as killer robots–––are becoming a reality. This course will trace developments in military technology from the gunpowder revolution in the 15th century and the nuclear revolution in the 20th century to emerging technologies like drones and artificial intelligence in the 21st century. Each class will focus on–––in roughly chronological order–––a different military innovation, and will use that innovation to analyze a different major political science theory or debate. In particular, we will assess the development, spread, effectiveness, and morality of military innovations and address critical questions for scholarship and policy. Are nuclear weapons a net positive or negative for international security, and will they ever be employed again or is there a “taboo” against their use? Do drone strikes increase or decrease terrorism, and what impact do remotely controlled systems have on conflict between states? Does military technology determine victory and defeat on the battlefield, and how have technologically inferior actors like the Viet Cong, Mujahideen, and Taliban managed to beat superpowers such as the Soviet Union and United States? Why are some countries able to successfully innovate whereas others fail? Do states always pursue military technologies to improve their security, or does the desire for status and prestige sometimes impact the kinds of weapons states want? Could the use of lethal autonomous weapons ever be considered ethical? These are just a handful of the questions we will explore in this class. By the end of the course, students will have a grasp of the history of military innovation and many of the key debates and theories in this field.
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Remote Systems and the Cyber Domain in Conflict
For most of human history, warfare took place face-to-face or in close proximity using weapons like rocks, swords, spears, bow and arrows, and firearms. However, the development of technologies like missiles, drones, and the internet have changed the character of warfare by enabling actors to use lethal force and cause disruption thousands of miles away from the battlefield. Technological advancements have arguably even led to the creation of an entirely human-made domain of warfare–––the cyber domain–––that is distinct from the land, sea, air, and space domains. This course will analyze the impact of drones and the cyber domain on international conflict. In particular, we will study the historical origins of these technologies, why and how they have spread, their use and effectiveness on the battlefield, ethical questions surrounding their use, and whether arms control is possible. How is the information revolution in computing similar and different from prior revolutions in military affairs? Are drones and the cyber domain transforming conflict by giving the offense a significant advantage over the defense, or is their offensive and destructive potential exaggerated? Is coercion possible in cyberspace, or does the “attribution problem” impede deterrence? Might drones actually reduce the risks of escalation in interstate conflict by removing the desire for revenge if a pilot is killed? Does the possibility of cyberwar increase the risks of nuclear weapons being used? How has the internet been weaponized to enable economic warfare and election interference? Might cyber espionage undermine the United States’ military advantage, and should the US ban TikTok? Do drones decrease or increase terrorism? Is remote warfare and the use of lethal autonomous weapons systems–––sometimes referred to as killer robots–––inherently unethical? These are just a handful of the questions we will explore in this class. By the end of the course, students will have a grasp of the history of the information revolution and many of the key debates and theories in this field.
Syllabus: Download Here