Drone Warfare

Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2015One of the most significant and controversial developments in contemporary warfare is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones. In the last decade, US drone strikes have more than doubled and their deployment is transforming the way wars are fought across the globe. But how did drones claim such an important role in modern military planning? And how are they changing military strategy and the ethics of war and peace? What standards might effectively limit their use? Should there even be a limit? Drone warfare is the first book to engage fully with the political, legal, and ethical dimensions of UAVs. In it, political scientist Sarah Kreps and philosopher John Kaag discuss the extraordinary expansion of drone programs from the Cold War to the present day and their so-called 'effectiveness' in conflict zones. Analysing the political implications of drone technology for foreign and domestic policy as well as public opinion, the authors go on to examine the strategic position of the United States - by far the world's most prolific employer of drones - to argue that US military supremacy could be used to enshrine a new set of international agreements and treaties aimed at controlling the use of UAVs in the future.

Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2015One of the most significant and controversial developments incontemporary warfare is the use of unmanned aerial vehiclescommonly referred to as drones. In the last decade, US dronestrikes have more than doubled and their deployment is transformingthe way wars are fought across the globe. But how did drones claimsuch an important role in modern military planning? And how arethey changing military strategy and the ethics of war and peace?What standards might effectively limit their use? Should there evenbe a limit?Drone warfare is the first book to engage fully with thepolitical, legal, and ethical dimensions of UAVs. In it, politicalscientist Sarah Kreps and philosopher John Kaag discuss theextraordinary expansion of drone programs from the Cold War to thepresent day and their so-called effectiveness inconflict zones. Analysing the political implications of dronetechnology for foreign and domestic policy as well as publicopinion, the authors go on to examine the strategic position of theUnited States - by far the world s most prolific employer ofdrones - to argue that US military supremacy could be used toenshrine a new set of international agreements and treaties aimedat controlling the use of UAVs in the future.

* Preface* Chapter One: Introduction* Chapter Two: The Nuts and Bolts of Drones* Chapter Three: Drones and Democracy* Chapter Four: Drones and International Law* Chapter Five: The Ethics of Drone Warfare* Chapter Six: Conclusion: The Way Ahead* References