Lead by Lauren Gould (principal investigator) in collaboration with Linde Arentze (PhD candidate), this research project investigates how, and importantly why the “Dutch and NATO way of warfare” has evolved during two decades of interventionism in Afghanistan and beyond. Informed by an assemblage approach, we zoom in on why and how particular discourses, actors, technologies, practices, and effects (re) assembled as conduits of war in Afghanistan between 2001-2021. In addition, we zoom out to understand how this process was informed by previous wars (e.g., Bosnia and Kosovo), mutated into parallel war assemblages (e.g., Iraq and Libya) and (re)-assembled in current theatres of war (e.g., Ukraine and Gaza).
Data will be be gathered through open source documents, archival research, participant observation, and interviews conducted during fieldwork in the Netherlands, among key NATO allies, Afghanistan, and neighboring countries. Our analysis will result in a theoretically informed peer-reviewed book that - through studying how warfare was assembled and reassembled in Afghanistan and beyond - reflects on the changing character and nature of 21st-century war.
This research project is commissioned by the Dutch government, conducted under the KNAW and NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, it is one of four large sub-studies on Dutch and NATO military engagement, diplomatic activities and non-governmental involvement in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.
From an inter- and transdisciplinary perspective, this research project engages with the realities of increasing autonomy in warfare through artificial intelligence. From a Conflict Studies, International Relations, Media and Cultural Studies, and Law perspective, we explore how integrating algorithms into existing military technology paves the way for more autonomy, ludification, and remoteness in war, changing the dynamics of the battlefield and posing serious risk to civilians, as well as to fundamental democratic principles like transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
The Realities of Algorithmic War project engages in in-depth research on the innovation, deployment, and impact of AI systems in the military domain and reflects on how this affects civilian harm, security, human rights, and democratic principles. By engaging with a variety of stakeholders crossing disciplinary thresholds, we collectively contribute to bringing the academic and policy debates forward on topics related to the lived realities of increasing system autonomy in war.
See here for more information and here for our latest research and impact output.
The Intimacies of Remote Warfare is an evidence-based research programme that aims to inform academic, public and policy debates on the intimate realities of remote wars waged by advanced militaries.
The programme investigates the politics, operations, technologies, and political economy of remote warfare, as well as its impact on civilian harm and blowback. IRW engages with key stakeholders to participate in expert round tables, co-create knowledge, and formulate policy recommendations. It shares its findings through academic journals and books, op-eds, podcasts, documentaries, public events, a summer school, and (social) media outlets.
See our website The Intimacies of Remote Warfare for an overview of past and current research and impact activities and output.
