84-274 An Introduction to Technology and War
9 units, Carnegie Mellon University
"Advancements" in military technology over time have enabled countries to kill quickly, with pinpoint precision, and on a massive scale from thousands of miles away. Today, emerging technologies also empower state and non-state actors to use lethal force via remote control and may even allow machines to kill autonomously. While once the purview of science fiction, lethal autonomous weapons systems-sometimes referred to as killer robots-are becoming a reality. This course will trace developments in military technology from the gunpowder revolution in the 15th century and the nuclear revolution in the 20th century to emerging technologies like drones and artificial intelligence in the 21st century. Each class will focus on-in roughly chronological order-a different military innovation, and will use that innovation to analyze a different major political science theory or debate. In particular, we will assess the development, spread, effectiveness, and morality of military innovations and address critical questions for scholarship and policy. By the end of the course, students will have a grasp of the history of military innovation and many of the key debates and theories in this field.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Fall 2026, Fall 2025
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