Transhumanizing War: Performance Enhancement and the Implications for Policy, Society, and the Soldier (Human Dimensions in Foreign Policy, Military Studies, and Security Studies, 9) (Volume 9) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0773559485 ISBN 13: 9780773559486

Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2020

Synopsis

The concept of soldier enhancement often invokes images of dystopian futures populated with dehumanized military personnel. These futures serve as warnings in science fiction works, and yet the enhancement of soldiers' combat capability is almost as old as war itself. Today, soldier enhancement is the purpose of military training and the application of innovative technologies, but when does it begin to challenge individuals' very humanity?

Bringing together the work of a diverse group of practitioners and academics, Transhumanizing War examines performance enhancement in the military from a wide range of perspectives. The book builds on two key premises: that rapid advances in science and technology are outstripping governments' and military organizations' capacity to adapt, and that this has put pressure on the connection between the military and the public. The contributors to this collection grapple with the implications of continued technological advancement and the possibility that innovative solutions to performance enhancement will risk further alienating the soldier from society. Navigating the fine line between technological promise and ethics, this volume presents a guide to responsible implementation in Canada and abroad.

Offering unique insights into a debate on the bleeding edge of public discourse, Transhumanizing War considers the best ways to improve combat effectiveness while still preserving soldiers' humanity.

Contributors include G. de Boisboissel (St Cyr), Linda Bossi (Defence Research and Development Canada), David Bryant (Defence Research and Development Canada), Colin Farrelly (Queen's University), Sara Greco (Queen's University), Monica Jones (University of Michigan), Thomas Karakolis (Defence Research and Development Canada), Allan Keefe (Defence Research and Development Canada), Maxwell Mehlmen (Case Western Reserve University), Farzana Nabi (US Army), K. Niall (Defence Research and Development Canada), David Tack (Defence Research and Development Canada), A. Vergin (Deutsche Bundeswehr), Randall Wakelam (Royal Military College of Canada), and Vicki Woodside-Duggins (Canadian Defence Academy)

About this title

About the Authors

H. Christian Breede is associate professor of political science at the Royal Military College of Canada, a serving infantry officer, co-editor of Going to War? Trends in Military Interventions, author of The Idea of Failed States, and editor of Culture and the Solder.

Stéphanie Bélanger is a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada.

Stéfanie von Hlatky is Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security, and the Armed Forces at Queen’s University.

From the Back Cover

Series editors: Stéphanie A.H. Bélanger and Pierre Jolicoeur

Books in this series illuminate thorny issues in national and international security, analyzing both military and foreign policy. They highlight the human dimensions of war, such as the health and well-being of military members, the factors that influence military cooperation and operational effectiveness, civil-military relations and decisions regarding the use of force, and the challenges of violence and terrorism, as well as human security and conflict resolution. Some authors focus on the ethical, moral, and legal ramifications of ongoing conflicts and wars, while others, through the lens of policy analysis, explore the impact of military and political strife on human rights and the role the public plays in shaping international policy.

Published in collaboration with Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada, with the Centre for International and Defence Policy, the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, and the Centre for Security, Armed Forces, and Society, the series plays a pivotal role in reconceptualizing contemporary security challenges - both in the academic realm and for broader publics.

Edition details

• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0773559485
• ISBN 13: 9780773559486
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336
• Editor: Breede H. Christian, Bélanger Stéphanie, Hlatky Stéfanie Von