Political Science Military Policy
Transhumanizing War
Performance Enhancement and the Implications for Policy, Society, and the Soldier
- Publisher
- McGill-Queen's University Press
- Initial publish date
- Apr 2020
- Category
- Military Policy, Military Medicine
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780773559486
- Publish Date
- Apr 2020
- List Price
- $45.95
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780773559479
- Publish Date
- Apr 2020
- List Price
- $140.00
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9780773559684
- Publish Date
- Apr 2020
- List Price
- $45.95
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Description
The concept of soldier enhancement often invokes images of dystopian futures populated with dehumanized military personnel. These futures serve as warnings in science fiction works, and yet the enhancement of soldiers' combat capability is almost as old as war itself. Today, soldier enhancement is the purpose of military training and the application of innovative technologies, but when does it begin to challenge individuals' very humanity? Bringing together the work of a diverse group of practitioners and academics, Transhumanizing War examines performance enhancement in the military from a wide range of perspectives. The book builds on two key premises: that rapid advances in science and technology are outstripping governments' and military organizations' capacity to adapt, and that this has put pressure on the connection between the military and the public. The contributors to this collection grapple with the implications of continued technological advancement and the possibility that innovative solutions to performance enhancement will risk further alienating the soldier from society. Navigating the fine line between technological promise and ethics, this volume presents a guide to responsible implementation in Canada and abroad. Offering unique insights into a debate on the bleeding edge of public discourse, Transhumanizing War considers the best ways to improve combat effectiveness while still preserving soldiers' humanity.
About the authors
H. Christian Breede is associate professor of political science at the Royal Military College of Canada, a serving infantry officer, co-editor of Going to War? Trends in Military Interventions, author of The Idea of Failed States, and editor of Culture and the Solder.
H. Christian Breede's profile page
Stéphanie A.H. Bélanger is associate professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, associate scientific director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, and co-editor of Beyond the Line: Military and Veteran Health Research.
Stéphanie A.H. Bélanger's profile page
Stéfanie von Hlatky is associate professor of political studies at Queen's University, editor of Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism: Assessing Domestic and International Strategies, and co-editor of Going to War? Trends in Military Interventions.
Editorial Reviews
“This book will be valuable in reintroducing ethical dilemmas to the field of HPE. It should be read by a wide audience, partly because it is fascinating and partly because it serves as a prescient warning of the future weapons of modern warfare. It would be well placed as required reading in any graduate class on scientific ethics and philosophy, just as it would in courses in professional military education. Similarly, this book provides an excellent overview of present and historical HPE, and policy-makers in Canada and its allies should take the opportunity to receive a crash course on the studies underway in research organizations of NATO forces.” International Journal
