Adam Reilly & Matthew P. Arsenault
As conflict progresses into the 21st century the introduction of autonomous weapon systems marks a significant turning point for the application of force. With the ability to operate with little to no human intervention autonomous weapons technologies are a tight encapsulation of what Achille Mbembe calls Necropolitics- the leveraging of death as the ultimate tool of sovereignty and control over the world. With the delegation of the act of killing to these autonomous systems the practical mechanics of warfare are being redefined to such as extent as to change the relationships between conflict and culture. This redefinition is compounded by the large scale investment in, and implementation of, these systems as a backbone of future conflict. Serving to legitimize and normalize the application of death as a tool of, not only power, but governance. The looming dawn of a new autonomous or semi-autonomous battlefield demands the critical analysis and reflection of these emergent dynamics in a world where their use is no longer seen as a possibility but instead an eventuality.
Historical Context: The Evolution of Necropolitics in Warfare
While the phrase necropolitics is relatively new the concept of violence and death as a tool of power is an enduring part of human civilization dating back to prehistory. Evolving with each emergent technology to both respond to and shape the ever changing nature of conflict. From the earliest clubs to modern precision weapons the objective remains the same: create and wield power and influence by controlling who lives and who dies.
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