A conceptual critique of remote warfare. Issue 4 (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rauta, Vladimir
• Is Part Of: Defence studies. Volume 21:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 545
• Page End: 572
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: Concept analysis -- semantic field -- remote warfare -- proxy warfare -- political violence -- contemporary war -- warfare; Military policy -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; National security -- Periodicals; Defensive (Military science) -- Periodicals; 355.0305
• DOI: 10.1080/14702436.2021.1994398
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-2436

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a conceptual critique of "remote warfare." It argues that "remote warfare" is more of a trendy term than a robust concept. In support of this assessment, this paper makes two arguments. First, that there is a lack of clarity in the debate over what "remote warfare" is: namely, the literature is yet to explain what it entails. Second, that because of this lack of definitional specificity, we also lack an account of its analytical value: what intellectual leverage does it hold over existing terms making similar claims? The article discusses these points by expanding on the notion of "semantic field, " which it uses to assess how "remote warfare" contributes and is shaped by the broader conceptual confusion in the study of contemporary war and warfare.