Over the past two decades, the field of International Relations has increasingly focused on the dynamics of drone warfare, broadly defined as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to achieve political, strategic, or tactical objectives. This lecture, catered towards undergraduate students, explores the multifaceted implications of this technology’s rise, analysing its effects on the battlefield and its influence on decision-making processes during conflicts. From the ways drones are reshaping regional and international power structures to the profound dilemmas posed by their growing autonomy, the lecture will unpack the critical questions emerging at the intersection of technology, conflict, and global ethics, including case studies from the field.
Dr Begum Zorlu is an ESRC Research Fellow at City, St. George’s University of London and her work focuses on the political opposition in Turkey and Venezuela, the dynamics of solidarity and contestation in International Relations and the changing landscape of warfare. She is the co-chair of the Political Studies Association Turkish Politics Specialist Group.
Registration will close two hours before the event begins