Role of Technology in International Affairs (First Edition, 2016)

Recent advances in technology have opened up vast new areas of communication, cooperation and even friction among nations in their pursuit of security, development and progress. Science and technology today transcend almost all areas of international affairs. The role of science and technology in international affairs is so intrinsic that it is rarely recognised as a separate entity and often taken for granted. The impact of modern dual-use technology on human society and national security has become so large that it would be necessary for foreign policy professionals to understand the finer nuances of technology to successfully negotiate international affairs in future. The book Role of Technology in International Affairs is aimed at bringing a clear appreciation of the various interconnections and interdependencies between technology, security, foreign policy and diplomacy that future diplomats must have for navigating towards international peace.

Part-I introduces the reader to the changing dimensions of international relations and diplomacy and highlights the interplay between technology and international affairs. An India-specific perspective is also discussed to bring focus on future challenges for India in the changing globalised world. Part-II takes the reader through four technology areas of major impact on international affairs. New dimensions of outer space and cyber space have emerged as most decisive area for international peace. Climate change is going to be the most challenging area for international negotiation for the future. The four chapters endeavour to provide a keen insight on important technology areas. Part-III is about how best India can integrate science and technology and foreign policy to build its comprehensive national power which will be vital to India positioning itself as a major power for protecting and furthering its national interest in international affairs.

The book should serve as a valuable references to foreign policy professionals and students, and also provide a new perspective for technologists to appreciate the need for an integrated approach.

Professor Amitav Mallik has been a research scientist in the Ministry of Defence since 1966 and he was among the first in India to develop indigenous gas lasers. After ten years of teaching at DIAT, Pune, as Professor of Electronics, he continued his work on high power lasers and founded the laser laboratory - Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) in Delhi. As Director, LASTEC his pioneering work in high power lasers put India on the world map of directed energy weapons capability for satellite defence applications. He was awarded the Padmashri in 2002 for his outstanding contribution to defence research and development. He served as the first Adviser, Defence Technology at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C., during 1988-1994 where he laid the foundation for Indo-US cooperation in critical defence technologies. This led to opening-up of the high-tech US-India cooperation of today. He served as Adviser on the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) for three successive years from 2003, contributing to strategic security planning and also bringing a new focus on energy and environment security at the NSC. He has authored 5 books, starting with the first on Technology and Security in 21st Century: A Demand Side Perspective for SIPRI, Sweden. He continues to write and speak on national security, strategic technologies and energy and environment issues to help spread public awareness on these subjects.