Book: Weaponizing Civilian Protection
Book
The book Weaponizing Civilian Protection by Dr. Thomas Gregory offers an unsettling examination of how civilian casualties were weaponized during the war in Afghanistan.
Here you will find a variety of relevant publications, op-eds, events, and podcasts published by ourselves and others.
Remote warfare is only remote for some. While politicians portray it as riskless, algorithmic targeting and ‘precision’ airstrikes often lead to widescale civilian casualties. These casualties are often denied, kept secret or undercounted to maintain the myth of a clean war. In response, a growing community of scholars and NGOs have utilised remote-sensing techniques to monitor civilian harm. The resulting contestation of the exact numbers of civilian casualties has provoked intense debate. This raises pressing questions about the impact of the violence executed and democratic control.
IRW supports PAX’s reflections on Dutch apologies as an important step for Hawija residents
Commentary
PAX published a reflection on the Dutch Minister of Defense’s formal apology for the Hawija airstrike. IRW supports its key conclusion.
Concerning Conflict, War and Peace: 25 Years of Conflict Studies at Utrecht University
Conference
During the Conflict Studies 25th-anniversary conference at Utrecht University, dr. Lauren Gould hosted two panels on the military-industrial-academic complex and ecocide and civilian harm.
Reactions from Civilians in Hawija on the Committee Sorgdrager Report
Commentary
PAX representatives and the independent organization Ashor were in Hawija to talk to civilians about the findings of the Commissie Sorgdrager report.
Concerning Conflict, War and Peace: 25 Years of Conflict Studies at Utrecht University
Conference
Dr. Lauren Gould will organize and chair two panels on the Military-Industrial-Academic Complex and Ecocide at the Conflict Studies Concerning War, Conflict and Peace conference.
Investigating Civilian Harm in an Era of Western Remote Warfare
Commentary
In this Armed Groups and International Law blog, Dr. Lauren Gould reflects on why we should move towards a broader definition of civilian harm to measure and debate the impact of Western interventions.
Commissie Sorgdrager concludes ‘Too Little, Too Late’
Commentary
IRW reviews Comissie Sorgdragers report on the lessons learned from Dutch Coalition bombing of Hawija
The Palestine Laboratory
Media
In his podcast series “The Palestine Laboratory”, investigative journalist Anthony Loewenstein examines how the Palestinian territories became a testing ground for military and surveillance technologies.
RAW receives FWO research grant to trace and investigate the realities of algorithmic warfare
News
Researchers Marijn Hoijtink and Lauren Gould have been awarded a research grant by Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen (FWO) to trace and investigate the realities of algorithmic warfare.
AI in Warfare: Distance, Drones and Datafication
Events
On January 8th, Jessica Dorsey will give a lecture discussing the ethical, legal, and practical challenges posed by AI's transformative impact on modern warfare.