30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future
-
J. Wesley Hutto
Abstract
The question of why states acquire drone technology is well traversed. This chapter approaches the issue of armed drone proliferation from a slightly different angle. In it I ask, “what is the meaning of drone proliferation and what does it hold for the future of world politics?” This question presupposes that the acquisition of armed drones may mean different things to different actors. Arnold Wolfers famously referred to national security as an “ambiguous symbol.” In this same sense, the acquisition of armed drones has an ambiguous meaning. It is only through probing the possible meanings of drone proliferation that we might uncover a vision of future world politics in which armed drones are ubiquitous. This is also a system-level question, prompting an investigation of the systemic impacts of drone proliferation. To this end, I employ three competing assumptions about world politics, loosely adapted from traditions of International Relations - anarchy, interdependence, and society - to examine varying global futures under drone proliferation. The findings suggest that the proliferation of drones will complicate the management of violence by great powers, challenge international liberal rules and norms, and agitate existing fissures between the Global North and Global South.
Abstract
The question of why states acquire drone technology is well traversed. This chapter approaches the issue of armed drone proliferation from a slightly different angle. In it I ask, “what is the meaning of drone proliferation and what does it hold for the future of world politics?” This question presupposes that the acquisition of armed drones may mean different things to different actors. Arnold Wolfers famously referred to national security as an “ambiguous symbol.” In this same sense, the acquisition of armed drones has an ambiguous meaning. It is only through probing the possible meanings of drone proliferation that we might uncover a vision of future world politics in which armed drones are ubiquitous. This is also a system-level question, prompting an investigation of the systemic impacts of drone proliferation. To this end, I employ three competing assumptions about world politics, loosely adapted from traditions of International Relations - anarchy, interdependence, and society - to examine varying global futures under drone proliferation. The findings suggest that the proliferation of drones will complicate the management of violence by great powers, challenge international liberal rules and norms, and agitate existing fissures between the Global North and Global South.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction: Why Study Drones? 1
-
Part 1: Approaches to the Study of Drone Warfare
- 2 What Is Drone Warfare? 9
- 3 Defining Drones 25
- 4 Drones and International Law 41
- 5 Drone Imaginaries 57
- 6 A Gendering of Drones 69
- 7 Critiquing Drone Warfare 87
-
Part 2: The First Drone Age
- 8 What Is ‘The First Drone Age’? 107
- 9 Drone Pilots: The Struggles of War by Remote Control 111
- 10 The Post-9/11 Era: Drones and Just War Theory 125
- 11 The CIA Drone Program 141
- 12 Drones and Civilian Harm 159
- 13 Drone Warfare and Public Opinion 177
- 14 Living Under Drones 197
- 15 The Media and Drone Warfare 215
-
Part 3: The Second Drone Age
- 16 What is ‘The Second Drone Age’? 237
- 17 The Islamic State Drone Program 243
- 18 The Use of Drones in West Africa and the Sahel 255
- 19 China’s Drone Diplomacy 267
- 20 Russian Military Drones: Established and Emerging Technologies in Ukraine 285
- 21 Europe’s Military Drone Problem 299
- 22 Violent Nonstate Exploitation of Commercial Drones 313
- 23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine 325
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Part 4: A Third Drone Age? Concerns and Visions for the Future
-
Concerns
- 24 Domestic Drones and Domestic Threat: Urban Life in the Drone Age 343
- 25 Autonomous Drones 369
- 26 Swarming Drones 385
- 27 Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems 399
-
Visions
- 28 The Diffusion of Drone Warfare – A Ten Year Review 421
- 29 Drones: A Unique Danger to International Law 437
- 30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future 453
- Contributors to this Volume 475
- Index 485
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction: Why Study Drones? 1
-
Part 1: Approaches to the Study of Drone Warfare
- 2 What Is Drone Warfare? 9
- 3 Defining Drones 25
- 4 Drones and International Law 41
- 5 Drone Imaginaries 57
- 6 A Gendering of Drones 69
- 7 Critiquing Drone Warfare 87
-
Part 2: The First Drone Age
- 8 What Is ‘The First Drone Age’? 107
- 9 Drone Pilots: The Struggles of War by Remote Control 111
- 10 The Post-9/11 Era: Drones and Just War Theory 125
- 11 The CIA Drone Program 141
- 12 Drones and Civilian Harm 159
- 13 Drone Warfare and Public Opinion 177
- 14 Living Under Drones 197
- 15 The Media and Drone Warfare 215
-
Part 3: The Second Drone Age
- 16 What is ‘The Second Drone Age’? 237
- 17 The Islamic State Drone Program 243
- 18 The Use of Drones in West Africa and the Sahel 255
- 19 China’s Drone Diplomacy 267
- 20 Russian Military Drones: Established and Emerging Technologies in Ukraine 285
- 21 Europe’s Military Drone Problem 299
- 22 Violent Nonstate Exploitation of Commercial Drones 313
- 23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine 325
-
Part 4: A Third Drone Age? Concerns and Visions for the Future
-
Concerns
- 24 Domestic Drones and Domestic Threat: Urban Life in the Drone Age 343
- 25 Autonomous Drones 369
- 26 Swarming Drones 385
- 27 Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems 399
-
Visions
- 28 The Diffusion of Drone Warfare – A Ten Year Review 421
- 29 Drones: A Unique Danger to International Law 437
- 30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future 453
- Contributors to this Volume 475
- Index 485
