Military technology assessment and preventive arms control: Fundamental issues, natural-science peace research, and present challenges
Abstract
Military technologies have so far been largely neglected in technology assessment (TA), even though they can have devastating consequences and their very purpose is to cause damage, injury, and death. While an individual state can establish and enforce rules for civilian technologies, in the anarchic international system there is no higher authority that can regulate military technologies – restrictions and prohibitions can only come about through voluntary agreements between states. Military TA starts with a natural-science/technical analysis, evaluates the results against a set of criteria, and then develops options for preventive restrictions. The article outlines examples from such past and current work, showing that emerging military technologies pose particular challenges for TA.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Nuclear Issues and Defense
Defense
Military
and Policy Studies
Economic Sanctions and International Relations
Publication details
- Journal / source
- TATuP - Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis
- Publisher
- Oekom Publishers GmbH
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 22–27
- Publication date
- 23 March 2026