title: The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) in US grand strategy

authors: Okpaleke, Francis Nnadezie

subjects: Drones

abstract: This Ph.D. thesis examines the role of drones in US grand strategy based on their use by successive US administrations post 9/11 in 'targeted states' (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya) in pursuant of different typologies of grand strategies. Since 9/11, drones have been used for targeted killing operations and for dismantling terrorist organizations. However, while drones on the battlefield present tactical benefits and are attractive to modern militaries and political decision-makers, their use has several unintended consequences. These include the negative impact in targeted states, destabilizing international politics and, undermining US strategic objectives. These are real problems that have not been adequately explored in the existing literature on the topic. To address this gap, the overarching research question of the thesis investigates how drones support or undermine US grand strategy. In doing so, the thesis attempts to determine the broader strategic ramifications of drone use for US grand strategy beyond their short-term tactical relevance.
Furthermore, it probes the political and strategic goals they supposedly advance and the consequences of drone proliferation for US strategic objectives at the national and global level. The thesis draws on publicly available data sets on drone strikes in targeted states since 9/11. It utilizes the international relations theories of realism, liberalism, and security dilemma theory to explain drone use and their intersection with US grand strategy.
To examine the research questions, the utility and impact of drones in facilitating the grand strategy of successive US administrations before and after 9/11 are analyzed. Case analyses of the aftermath of drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan are undertaken, and the impact of continued drone diffusion among state and non-state actors is assessed. The thesis finds that continued use of drones by the US as a central counterterrorism tactic and an offensive war strategy in targeted states undermines US grand strategy. It does so by creating contradictory outcomes: on the one hand, it eliminates terrorists, but on the other, it causes anti-Americanism, the death of non-combatants, and generates unintended blowback. The significance of this thesis is that it supports the contention that the tactical use of drones has strategic ramifications that serve to undermine US grand strategy in the long term. These speak to a broader point about the evolving nature of modern warfare and its intersection with powerful emerging technologies. As these new technologies are integrated into warfighting and come to play an ever-larger role in statecraft, there needs to be a much more robust assessment and debate about their long-term strategic implications.

text: The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) in US grand strategy This Ph.D. thesis examines the role of drones in US grand strategy based on their use by successive US administrations post 9/11 in 'targeted states' (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya) in pursuant of different typologies of grand strategies. Since 9/11, drones have been used for targeted killing operations and for dismantling terrorist organizations. However, while drones on the battlefield present tactical benefits and are attractive to modern militaries and political decision-makers, their use has several unintended consequences. These include the negative impact in targeted states, destabilizing international politics and, undermining US strategic objectives. These are real problems that have not been adequately explored in the existing literature on the topic. To address this gap, the overarching research question of the thesis investigates how drones support or undermine US grand strategy. In doing so, the thesis attempts to determine the broader strategic ramifications of drone use for US grand strategy beyond their short-term tactical relevance.
Furthermore, it probes the political and strategic goals they supposedly advance and the consequences of drone proliferation for US strategic objectives at the national and global level. The thesis draws on publicly available data sets on drone strikes in targeted states since 9/11. It utilizes the international relations theories of realism, liberalism, and security dilemma theory to explain drone use and their intersection with US grand strategy.
To examine the research questions, the utility and impact of drones in facilitating the grand strategy of successive US administrations before and after 9/11 are analyzed. Case analyses of the aftermath of drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan are undertaken, and the impact of continued drone diffusion among state and non-state actors is assessed. The thesis finds that continued use of drones by the US as a central counterterrorism tactic and an offensive war strategy in targeted states undermines US grand strategy. It does so by creating contradictory outcomes: on the one hand, it eliminates terrorists, but on the other, it causes anti-Americanism, the death of non-combatants, and generates unintended blowback. The significance of this thesis is that it supports the contention that the tactical use of drones has strategic ramifications that serve to undermine US grand strategy in the long term. These speak to a broader point about the evolving nature of modern warfare and its intersection with powerful emerging technologies. As these new technologies are integrated into warfighting and come to play an ever-larger role in statecraft, there needs to be a much more robust assessment and debate about their long-term strategic implications.

year: 2021

title: Truth as a cultural value

authors: Wyatt, Jeremy

abstract: In this commentary, I offer an extended evaluation of the strategy for thinking about truth’s nature that Sher proposes.  This strategy—which I call the ‘value-first strategy’—has it that we should first observe that truth is an intrinsic human value and then develop an account of truth’s nature on the basis of this observation.  I begin by arguing that truth is best described as a cultural, rather than a human, value.  I then argue that because truth is a cultural value, the value-first strategy compels us to seriously consider some novel ideas about truth’s nature that are respectively grounded in discussions about truth pluralism and some remarks by Alfred Tarski.

text: Truth as a cultural value In this commentary, I offer an extended evaluation of the strategy for thinking about truth’s nature that Sher proposes.  This strategy—which I call the ‘value-first strategy’—has it that we should first observe that truth is an intrinsic human value and then develop an account of truth’s nature on the basis of this observation.  I begin by arguing that truth is best described as a cultural, rather than a human, value.  I then argue that because truth is a cultural value, the value-first strategy compels us to seriously consider some novel ideas about truth’s nature that are respectively grounded in discussions about truth pluralism and some remarks by Alfred Tarski.

year: 2024

title: A collaborative approach to improving youth mental health.

authors: Goodwin, Debbie Waireka Tuhi

subjects: Maori

abstract: Nga Taiohi Whai Marama / Youth Connex was developed collaboratively by three organisations: Health Waikato Mental Health, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, and Linkage. These organisations had a vision of creating greater integration and improved pathways between youth and mental health services, as well as providing a service explicitly based on youth-friendly principles. The key aims of Whai Marama Youth Connex are to improve youth’s access to services and contribute to the development of a youth service-provider network. To fulfil this we aim to provide a range of services, integrated pathways and capacity building on several levels, the client level, the provider level and the funder level. Debbie Goodwin (Tuhoe) was employed as the Manager of the service and has a key role in developing the organisation, planning and shaping its services, and employing and managing its’ staff. She will give an overview of how the service is developing in partnership and biculturally, how youth-friendly principles are enacted, and what some of the key issues have been in its early stages.

text: A collaborative approach to improving youth mental health. Nga Taiohi Whai Marama / Youth Connex was developed collaboratively by three organisations: Health Waikato Mental Health, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, and Linkage. These organisations had a vision of creating greater integration and improved pathways between youth and mental health services, as well as providing a service explicitly based on youth-friendly principles. The key aims of Whai Marama Youth Connex are to improve youth’s access to services and contribute to the development of a youth service-provider network. To fulfil this we aim to provide a range of services, integrated pathways and capacity building on several levels, the client level, the provider level and the funder level. Debbie Goodwin (Tuhoe) was employed as the Manager of the service and has a key role in developing the organisation, planning and shaping its services, and employing and managing its’ staff. She will give an overview of how the service is developing in partnership and biculturally, how youth-friendly principles are enacted, and what some of the key issues have been in its early stages.

year: 2003