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The Military Dimensions of Science and Technology

The Military Dimensions of Science and Technology. Dr Stuart Parkinson. http://www.sgr.org.uk/. UK is major military power. UK military spending 3 rd highest in world (£33 billion/ year) UK is major arms exporter (4 th in world) UK one of 5 ‘official’ nuclear weapons states

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The Military Dimensions of Science and Technology

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  1. The Military Dimensions of Science and Technology Dr Stuart Parkinson http://www.sgr.org.uk/

  2. UK is major military power • UK military spending 3rd highest in world (£33 billion/ year) • UK is major arms exporter (4th in world) • UK one of 5 ‘official’ nuclear weapons states • UK forces have been active in recent major conflicts (eg Iraq, Afghanistan) • UK home to large military corporations

  3. Military & UK science & technology • Current Government policy • increase use of high technology by UK military • decrease number in armed forces • UK is world’s 2nd largest funder of military R&D (£2.7 bn)

  4. Ministry of Defence (MoD) • Annually buys £6 bn of military technology • Annually spends £2.6 bn on R&D • 33% of UK Gov R&D budget • 40% of Gov R&D staff work for MoD • 12,000 staff • Main research arm is Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) • WMD work at Aldermaston, Porton Down

  5. UK Military industry • BAE Systems • Europe’s largest arms company • $17 bn/y military sales worldwide • Produces military aircraft, ships, missiles... • Rolls-Royce Defence • Produces engines for aircraft, ships • $2.5 bn/y military sales • Others include • Smiths, GKN, QinetiQ, VT Group, Alvis

  6. Military & universities • MoD/ DSTL funds R&D in universities • New collaborations between universities and military (Gov & business) • Defence Technology Centres • Towers of Excellence • Defence & Aerospace Research Partnerships • Also business university collaborations • Rolls Royce University Technology Centres • Boeing Sheffield Centre

  7. How did we get here? • Current UK military has developed from its roots in British Empire, WWI & WWII alliances, NATO • Historical military domination of UK government science & technology linked to military position

  8. Where are we going? • Global security issues are very different • end of Cold War, civil wars in poorer countries, terrorism, US unilateralism • increasing emphasis on technology • Some recognition that root causes of war need to be tackled • eg ethnic tensions, poverty, natural resources problems • Need for science and technology to be directed towards tackling urgent global problems • eg climate change, global poverty

  9. Ethical issues: a few examples • Nuclear weapons • Arms exports • Grounds for use of military force • Scale of military technology spending • Dual use technologies

  10. For Deterrence Political standing Against No defence against terrorists Conventional forces are adequate deterrence Encourages other countries to seek nuclear weapons Risk of major accidents Nuclear weapons

  11. For Economic benefits Employment Political influence Code of Conduct controls sales Against Code of Conduct ‘unenforceable’ Some exports go to human rights violators Heavily subsidised Civil technology offers better economic prospects Arms Exports

  12. Using military force • Only in self defence? • To prevent large scale human rights abuses? • To remove oppressive governments? • To remove hostile governments? • To protects national assets in other countries? • Only with UN approval?

  13. Scale of military tech spending • Keep current high levels so UK can continue to pursue current policies? • Divert some military tech funding so more can be spent on dealing with, eg, climate change, poverty?

  14. Dual use technologies • Dual use technologies can be used for both civil and military purposes • should there be restrictions on R&D which has military applications to prevent it ‘getting into the wrong hands’? • what effect might restrictions have on openness in science?

  15. Pacifist Focus on civilian projects Only work on military projects when aim is disarmament Defence-only advocate Only work military projects which are defensive in nature Government must have ‘Defensive Defence’ policy Military interventionist Work on any military project in UK or allied country or company Current UK Government military policy is acceptable Nihilist Work on any military project offered anywhere in the world, regardless of ethical concerns As engineers, where do you stand?

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