The Future of War

War, as Trotsky reminds us, is a great locomotive of history. It brings into sharp relief the interplay between social forces, political ambitions, and technological capability. Wars of the past have expanded and ended empires; given rise to revolutions and repression; been built on¿and in turn, unleashed¿scientific and engineering marvels. In this course, we will trace some of that history; that is, we will explore the history of the future of war by looking at several themes: intent, power, technology, capability, agency, violence, culture, identity, ethics, and uncertainty.