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An Introduction to Science, Technology, Warfare and Peace

A practical introductory guide to applying science and technology studies frameworks to the study of war and security. 

This textbook introduces how sociology, history, and philosophy of science and technology (science and technology studies or STS) approach the topic of war and security. It covers key concepts and theoretical approaches in STS and how they offer new insight into critical security studies and war and peace studies. To make the theory accessible, the book draws on seminal and contemporary empirical case studies, from weapons of mass destruction to everyday security and surveillance. An Introduction to Science, Technology, Warfare and Peace is ideal for students with no background knowledge of STS or as an introduction for more advanced researchers in other fields that study war and security, including politics and international relations, history, geography, sociology, and anthropology. Designed to support both independent and classroom learning, each carefully structured chapter begins by listing its key features and concepts so that readers understand the coverage at a glance. Chapters end with discussion questions to encourage critical thinking and suggested further readings. Online resources offer additional support in the form of learning activities and answer prompts for the discussion questions.


320 pages | 6.14 x 9.21 | © 2026


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Table of Contents

List of figures
List of abbreviations and acronyms
Preface

Introduction: Science | Technology | War | Security

Chapter 1: How does science and technology studies analyse military and security technologies?

Chapter 2: Scientists’ responsibility and the invention of new weapons

Chapter 3: Nuclear weapons: armament and disarmament

Chapter 4: Chemical and biological weapons: control, disarmament and dual-use

Chapter 5: Automatic war: controlling and creating the battlefield

Chapter 6: Tacit knowledge and security: can weapons be uninvented?

Chapter 7: Non-knowledge and security: secrecy, ignorance and absence

Chapter 8: Everyday security

Chapter 9: War from a distance: counting the dead and witnessing the dying

Index

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