There have developed quite separate debates concerning, on the one hand, the Transformation of Warfare, and
Revolution in Military Affairs on the other. Conventional knowledge is that while the former approach encompasses a vast range of scholarly analysis on how war in the contemporary era might have transformed in all spheres of economy, politics and society, the latter has focused on the impact of technological advancement in a narrower
sense on warfare, especially the way in which warfare has been conducted or ought to be conducted. However, to discuss changes in the character of war in these quite distinct spheres, each with specific preoccupations with no interactions, is not very conducive to a meaningful generalization about the transformation of warfare itself.
The purpose of this seminar is to consider the impact of modern and contemporary technological change, especially in the spheres of communications and media, on the character and conduct of warfare today, thereby bridging the two distinct spheres of interest. Some technologies are considered “disruptive”, such as AI and automation, but how do these newer technologies impact the nature and character of warfare today and into the future?