Postmodern War: The New Politics of Conflict

From Operation Desert Storm to the conflict in Bosnia, computerization and other scientific advances have brought about a revolution in warfare. This book shows how our high-tech age has spawned both increasingly powerful weapons and a rhetoric that disguises their apocalyptic potential in catch phrases like "smart weapons, " "cyberwar," and "bloodless combat." A combination of social analysis, illustrations, and military, technical, and historical analysis, this volume sheds new light on the ways we conceptualize and conduct war today. Analyzing the dynamics of conflicts from Afghanistan to Vietnam, the author reveals the human forces of nationalism, greed, fear, and images of masculinity beneath the surface of trendy military doctrines such as "pure war" and "infowar." If we can identify and challenge the discourses of war, he argues, we can propose new discourses to replace them.