Civilian Harm | Intimacies of Remote Warfare

Here you will find our own research output and a variety of other thematically relevant publications, blogs, events and podcasts we have been inspired by in our investigations into the Intimacies of Remote Warfare.

Remote warfare is only remote for some. While politicians portray it as humanitarian, so-called ‘precision’ airstrikes often lead to mass civilian casualties. The distance at which this type of war is waged and the inaccessibility of its battlefields often leads to these casualties being overlooked. In recent years, however, a growing community of NGOs have utilised remote-sensing techniques to monitor local claims of 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.

19 June 2023

News: NRC’s assessment of the decision to arm drones

Unveiling the ethical implications and accountability challenges surrounding armed drones, this NRC analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of the decision to equip unmanned aerial vehicles with weaponry.

Civilians searching for answers from the US

A podcast on how the US responds to claims of civilian harm caused by US airstrikes and how civilians are left with lots of questions instead of answers.

Research Publication

26 May 2023

Journal Article: A new vision for SFA in weak states

Authors Emily Knowles and Jahara Matisek discuss that a shift is needed to a peacebuilding approach when providing SFA in weak states.

Research Publication

Journal Article: Strategic Narratives and US Surrogate Warfare

In this article ‘Strategic Narratives and US Surrogate Warfare’ Thomas Waldman discusses how the US frames and justifies their surrogate wars by using strategic narratives

Research Publication

19 May 2023

Article: Afghan civilians wrongfully killed by an American drone strike

The New York Times reflects on obtained footage by the U.S. military revealing their disastrous error in killing 10 civilians

05 May 2023

Podcast: Afghanistan: ‘A Legacy of Harm’

This episode of the Civilian Protection Podcast focuses on the legacy of civilian harm in Afghanistan.

04 May 2023

Documentary: The White Helmets

A documentary about the realities of remote warfare and how civilians risk their lives every day to save the lives of others.

Research Publication

Journal Article: The costs and consequences of drone warfare

Michael J. Boyle discusses and warns for the different costs and consequences of remote warfare such as blowback.

Algorithmic Warfare

10 March 2023

Session: RAW project kicks off RE-AIM Summit

Re-watch the packed RE-AIM session discussing the realities of autonomous warfare via the link.

Algorithmic Warfare

26 January 2023

Conference: Realities of Algorithmic Warfare at the RE-AIM Summit

IRW is hosting a session at the RE-AIM summit in the Hague, February 15th.