• 6 hour course by Arthur Holland (Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs)
• 30 June & 1-2 July (9:00 - 11:00h CEST)
• Format: face-to-face and online*

The term “game-changing technology” is a popular refrain in the realm of international security. We are often quick to declare that a particular emerging technology will fundamentally transform the character of conflict and the global balance of power. In defense circles, much money and effort go into attempting to lead, or stave off, such revolutions. But there's always a danger of overestimating or mischaracterizing the impact of emerging technologies—of investing in, or against a revolution that never materializes; or of failing to recognize a new technology’s disruptive potential before it’s too late to respond.

How do you forecast an emerging technology’s actual, rather than imagined, implications for international security? And how do we effectively communicate these conclusions to technologically-unversed decisionmakers so that they can craft a suitable response? Built around real-life case studies of "transformative" emerging technologies, this course will challenge students to develop an analytical framework for evaluating the true impact of any emerging technology on conflict, as well as communicate this work effectively with a policy audience. The class does not assume any prior direct experience in conflict technology research or technical expertise.

⬇️  Reading List (pdf)

*The format will be online and hybrid (classes will run simultaneously face to face and online to allow students to choose the modality that best suits their needs).