Autonomous Weapons Systems: A new kind of diplomacy?0

• International Relations and Global Affairs, Op-ed
• 08/04/2019

Kubrick’s 1964 film Doctor Strangelove portrays the devastating impact of a Soviet doomsday device. Programmed to automatically wipe out all human life if any nuclear attack would have struck the nation, the curious construction showed great diplomatic potential. Annoyed as to why the Soviets had kept the device a secret, Doctor Strangelove ranted to the Soviet Ambassador: “The whole point of the doomsday machine (deterrence) is lost if you keep it a secret. Why didn’t you tell the world?”As described by William McNeill in his book The Pursuit of Power, technological and military advances have a fundamental effect on global international relations.Yet these type of developments can only reach a certain level, before edging towards irreparable damage.