Remote Warfare: New Cultures of Violence
By Adrian R. Lewis
July 28, 2022
Photo by elnaz asadi on Unsplash
Remote Warfare: New Cultures of Violence. Edited by Rebecca A. Adelman and David Kieran. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2020.
Since 9/11 and the Bush Administration’s declaration of the Global War on Terrorism, the employment of drone technologies, or unmanned aerial vehicles, in counterinsurgency, counter-terrorism, military, and surveillance operations has expanded enormously. Drones have become an ever-expanding weapon and surveillance system employed by the armed forces, intelligence agencies, police and security forces, private military firms, and terrorist organizations. These technologies have not been without controversy, primarily because of the indiscriminate way in which they kill and how they violate sovereignty and privacy. During the recent American evacuation of Afghanistan (25-27 April 2022), for example, an American drone strike wiped out an entire Afghan family, including women and seven children.[1] Since 9/11, American drone strikes have killed hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent civilians, arguably violating the sovereignty of many countries in the process. Because of the expanded use and controversial nature of these weapon systems, the study of this relatively new form of warfare has increased enormously. Remote Warfare is another contribution to this growing body of literature.
Let me say up front what this book is not. Remote Warfare is not a study of the development and evolution of drone technology. It is not a study of the operational and tactical doctrine used to employ these systems or airpower in general. It is not a study of the controversial decision-making processes used to employ lethal, remote force, and it is not a study on the future uses and expanding roles of remote warfare. Those seeking a deeper understanding of the conduct of remote warfare should consider other works.
Remote Warfare is the product of a special issue of The Journal of War and Culture Studies. It consists of twelve chapters divided into three sections: Visions, Intimacies, and Reconfigurations. Rebecca A. Adelman, Professor of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Maryland, and David Kieran, associate professor of history at Washington & Jefferson College edited this study.
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2022/07/28/remote_warfare_new_cultures_of_violence_844946.html
