SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL  /  AFTER SEPT. 11
Teaching Guide for "New War?" Essays

1. Der Derian, Kaldor, and Wheeler raise ethical questions about the use of smart weapons in Afghanistan. What are these ethical concerns? What is your opinion of their arguments? Based on your knowledge of the US engagement in Afghanistan, how would you assess the US conduct of war?

2. Dorothy Denning and James Der Derian address the use of information technology for purposes of war, although from very different perspectives. Explain the different ways the two authors consider that new technologies can be used as a tool for waging war. What does each author prescribe as a defense against the threats posed to the public by these technologies? Discuss the positive and negative aspects of information technology's central role in today's world.

3. During the past two decades, there have been tremendous advances in military technology. According to Der Derian, Kaldor and Wheeler, how have these changes affected the way in which the US conducts wars as exemplified by US engagement in Kuwait, the Balkans, and, most recently, Afghanistan?

4. Based on Mary Kaldor's article, outline the characteristics of the armed networks that wage 'new wars' throughout the world. In what ways would the United States differ from countries like Russia, China and India in its approach to combating these armed networks? What are some of the challenges that 'new wars' pose to American militarism, neo-modern militarism and peace-enforcement? In what ways does the promotion of international law address these new challenges that these other military approaches cannot?

5. According to Nicholas Wheeler's piece, which aspects of "Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan are difficult to justify using Just War theory? What approach might the United States have taken to fulfill the guidelines put forth by this theory? On the other hand, how could one argue that such "collateral damage" was justified?