While the relationship between technology and power in international politics stretches back far beyond the establishment of International Relations as a field of study, contemporary technological shifts continue to have transformative impact on global politics. From artificial intelligence to the rise of digital platforms and the effects of drone warfare, the articles on this list engage with the evolving impact of technological change on international relations.
Journal Article
Rhiannon Neilsen
99: 1 (2023)
Discussion questions:
a) In what ways have violent groups become increasingly reliant on digital technologies?
b) What would be the policy implications of using cyber operations to prevent atrocities?
Journal Article
Maryanne Kelton, Michael Sullivan, Zac Rogers, Emily Bienvenue and Sian Troath
98: 6 (2022)
Discussion questions:
a) What is infrastructural power and how is it effected by the rise of digital platforms?
b) How might popular notions of sovereignty be reimagined to accommodate the growing power of digital platforms?
a) What is infrastructural power and how is it effected by the rise of digital platforms?
b) How might popular notions of sovereignty be reimagined to accommodate the growing power of digital platforms?
Journal Article
Corneliu Bjola, Ilan Manor
98: 2 (2022)
Discussion questions:
a) How have virtual meetings since COVID-19 informed diplomatic conduct?
b) Does ‘Zoom diplomacy’ have certain strengths over face-to-face interactions?
a) How have virtual meetings since COVID-19 informed diplomatic conduct?
b) Does ‘Zoom diplomacy’ have certain strengths over face-to-face interactions?
Journal Article
Dmitry Chernobrov
98: 2 (2022)
Discussion questions:
a) Does the internet allow all citizens to become combatants?
b) Has social media become a new domain of warfare?
a) Does the internet allow all citizens to become combatants?
b) Has social media become a new domain of warfare?
Journal Article
Thom Dixon
97: 3 (2021)
Discussion questions:
a) How will cyber-biological security change wars of the future?
b) Are cyber-biological security tools best suited to offense or defence?
a) How will cyber-biological security change wars of the future?
b) Are cyber-biological security tools best suited to offense or defence?
Journal Article
Jinghan Zeng
96: 6 (2020)
Discussion questions:
a) How could artificial intelligence tools support China’s authoritarian approach to governance?
b) How are AI-driven surveillance systems justified to the Chinese population?
a) How could artificial intelligence tools support China’s authoritarian approach to governance?
b) How are AI-driven surveillance systems justified to the Chinese population?
Journal Article
Helle Malmvig
96: 4 (2020)
Discussion questions:
a) What does audio-visual content bring to the communication of military propaganda?
b) How has technology enabled the appropriation of popular culture as a military strategic tool?
a) What does audio-visual content bring to the communication of military propaganda?
b) How has technology enabled the appropriation of popular culture as a military strategic tool?
Journal Article
Michele Bos and Jan Melissen
95: 6 (2019)
Discussion questions:
a) How have new form of communication influenced diplomacy?
b) Has social media given non-state actors an advantage in the information space?
a) How have new form of communication influenced diplomacy?
b) Has social media given non-state actors an advantage in the information space?
Journal Article
Warren Chin
95: 4 (2019)
Discussion questions:
a) How will new technologies effect the character of war?
b) Can and should certain technologies be banned from warfare?
a) How will new technologies effect the character of war?
b) Can and should certain technologies be banned from warfare?
Journal Article
Andrew B. Kennedy and Darren J. Lim
94: 3 (2018)
Discussion questions:
a) How significant is China’s investment in artificial intelligence?
b) Are we witnessing a new arms race between China and the United States?
a) How significant is China’s investment in artificial intelligence?
b) Are we witnessing a new arms race between China and the United States?
Journal Article
Yevgeniy Golovchenko, Mareike Hartmann, and Rebecca Adler-Nissen
94: 5 (2018)
Discussion questions:
a) Does social media take information warfare to a new level?
b) Does social media undermine the states’ role in warfare?
a) Does social media take information warfare to a new level?
b) Does social media undermine the states’ role in warfare?
Journal Article
Michael J. Boyle
89: 1 (2013)
Discussion questions:
a) To what extent does drone warfare represent the further automation of war?
b) Does drone warfare offer western governments the option to use force without having to account for the consequences of war?
a) To what extent does drone warfare represent the further automation of war?
b) Does drone warfare offer western governments the option to use force without having to account for the consequences of war?
Snapshot from history
The First World War saw the emergence of air power as a military strategic asset. During the interwar period many powers engaged in intensive expansion of their air capabilities, fundamentally altering the conduct of war but also catalysing shifting attitudes to transport in civilian life. In 1927 the military strategist Brigadier General Percy Groves spoke at Chatham House on the transformative effects of aviation on international relations.
P. R. C. Groves
6: 3 (1927)
Discussion questions:
a) How did the development of air power affect military strategy?
b) What does this article reveal about the capacity of war to drive forward technological innovation?
a) How did the development of air power affect military strategy?
b) What does this article reveal about the capacity of war to drive forward technological innovation?
Don't have access to the papers?
- Fill in this simple online form to recommend this journal to your institutional librarian
- Find out more about our subscription options
