This intriguing study examines Western perceptions of war in and beyond the nineteenth century, surveying the writings of novelists, anthropologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, philosophers, poets, natural scientists, and journalists to trace the terms of modern thought on the nature of military conflict. Daniel Pick brings together philosophical and historical models of war with fictions of invasion, propaganda from the Great War, interpretations of shellshock and speculations about the biological value of conquest. He discusses the work of such familiar commentators as Clausewitz, Engels, and Treitschke, and examines little-known writings by Proudhon, De Quincey, Ruskin, Valery, and many others, culminating in the extraordinary dialogue between Freud and Einstein, Why War? He analyses Victorian fears of French contamination through the Channel Tunnel as well as the widespread continuing dread of German domination. And he charts the history of the pervasive European belief that war is beneficial or at least functionally necessary. A central theme of the book is the disturbing relationship between machinery and destruction. Visions of relentless technological 'progress' and the inexorable advance of the military-industrial complex often seem to distort our understanding of war, even to reduce it to a sophisticated game played out by high-precision automata. Pick explores both the reassuring and troubling aspects of such representations. Shorn of human agency or responsibility, war apparently threatens to become technologically unstoppable, the remorseless 'perfect abattoir' of the industrial age. War Machine explores the enduring historical fascination with - and recoil from -brutal mechanical slaughter, and the modern aquiescence in, and enthusiasm for (in Rilke's phrase), 'these days of monstrously accelerated dying'.

The familiar image of the British in the Second World War is that of the plucky underdog taking on German might. David Edgerton's bold, compelling new history shows the conflict in a new light, with Britain as a very wealthy country, formidable in arms, ruthless in pursuit of its interests, and in command of a global production system. Rather than belittled by a Nazi behemoth, Britain arguably had the world's most advanced mechanized forces. It had not only a great empire, but allies large and small. Edgerton shows that Britain fought on many fronts and its many home fronts kept it exceptionally well supplied with weapons, food and oil, allowing it to mobilize to an extraordinary extent. It created and deployed a vast empire of machines, from the humble tramp steamer to the battleship, from the rifle to the tank, made in colossal factories the world over. Scientists and engineers invented new weapons, encouraged by a government and prime minister enthusiastic about the latest technologies. The British, indeed Churchillian, vision of war and modernity was challenged by repeated defeat at the hands of less well-equipped enemies. Yet the end result was a vindication of this vision. Like the United States, a powerful Britain won a cheap victory, while others paid a great price. Putting resources, machines and experts at the heart of a global rather than merely imperial story, Britain's War Machine demolishes timeworn myths about wartime Britain and gives us a groundbreaking and often unsettling picture of a great power in action.

The author aims to show how the emergence of intelligent and autonomous bombs and missiles equipped with artificial perception and decision-making capabilities represents a profound historical shift in the relation of human beings both to machines and to information.

Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the most beneficial technological development of the twenty-first century.Media hype and raised expectations for results, however, have clouded understanding of the true nature of AI—including its limitations and potential. AI at War provides a balanced and practical understanding of applying AI to national security and warfighting professionals as well as a wide array of other readers. Although the themes and findings of the chapters are relevant across the U.S. Department of Defense, to include all Services, the Joint Staff and defense agencies as well as allied and partner ministries of defense, this book is a case study of warfighting functions in the Naval Services—the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Sam J. Tangredi and George Galdorisi bring together over thirty experts, ranging from former DOD officials and retired flag officers to scientists and active duty junior officers. These contributors present views on a vast spectrum of subjects pertaining to the implementation of AI in modern warfare, including strategy, policy, doctrine, weapons, and ethical concerns.

Winner of the 2019 William E. Colby Award "The book I had been waiting for. I can't recommend it highly enough." —Bill Gates The era of autonomous weapons has arrived. Today around the globe, at least thirty nations have weapons that can search for and destroy enemy targets all on their own. Paul Scharre, a leading expert in next-generation warfare, describes these and other high tech weapons systems—from Israel’s Harpy drone to the American submarine-hunting robot ship Sea Hunter—and examines the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use. “A smart primer to what’s to come in warfare” (Bruce Schneier), Army of None engages military history, global policy, and cutting-edge science to explore the implications of giving weapons the freedom to make life and death decisions. A former soldier himself, Scharre argues that we must embrace technology where it can make war more precise and humane, but when the choice is life or death, there is no replacement for the human heart.

Are you ready for the warzones of tomorrow? Have you always been fascinated about the future of warfare? Do you want to discover the cutting-edge technology and strategies that will shape the way we solve conflicts? Offering an engaging and illuminating glimpse into the future of warfare across the world's land, sky, and sea, Humans, Machines, and Data delves into the latest military and scientific technology to explore how these advancements will impact the way nations conduct war. Covering human biotech, robotics, and even big data, you will also discover how broader social and environmental changes will impact every facet of warfare. From super soldiers and cyborgs to artificial intelligence and the emerging threats in cyberspace, warfare is changing by the second - and Humans, Machines, and Data provides you with a profound look at the evolution of combat. Here is just a little of what you will discover inside: The Sociology of Warfare How the Modern Age Has Created New Kinds of Warfare Why Artificial Intelligence and Robots Will Dominate the Warzones of Tomorrow How Social Shifts, Demographics, and Climate Change Will Define Our Future Cyborgs and Biotechnology - Why Super Soldiers Will Soon Become Reality A Breakdown of War in The Information Age Exploring Cyber Threats and Quantum Computing Deep Analysis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea And So Much More... Perfect for military enthusiasts, futurists, war buffs, and anyone interested in the technology of tomorrow, Humans, Machines, and Data offers you a unique and unparalleled look at how the world's militaries are evolving. Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is a Political Scientist and Emerging Threats expert. He was Founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using machine learning and artificial intelligence. He served in the U.S. Senate as a legislative fellow and advised a senator on defense and foreign policy issues. Brent has taught at George Washington University and George Mason University. He is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. Go to brenteastwood.com for more about Brent.

Since its creation at the beginning of World II, radars have forever transformed the practice of modern warfare. The evolution of countermeasure conducted by electronic warfare systems against radars and radars’ corresponding counter countermeasures is an intriguing technical subject. This book provides a very accessible introduction to a broad range of radar and electronic warfare technologies. The subjects covered in this book range from early radar development to later technologies such as stealthy techniques, low probability of intercept radar, and machine learning. Historical events are used to illustrate the principles of electronic warfare and to help readers to apprehend contexts under which radars and corresponding electronic warfare techniques were developed.