The Drone Debate

A Primer on the U.S. Use of Unmanned Aircraft Outside Conventional Battlefields

By (author) Avery Plaw, Matthew S. Fricker, Carlos Colon

Publication date:

24 December 2015

Length of book:

354 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442230590

The Drone Debate offers a thorough investigation of the where, why, how, and when of the U.S.'s use of UAVs. Beginning with a historical overview of the use of drones in warfare, it then addresses whether targeted killing operations are strategically wise, whether they are permissible under international law, and the related ethical issues. It also looks at the political factors behind the use of drones, including domestic and global attitudes toward their use and potential issues of proliferation and escalation. Finally, the use of drones by other countries, such as Israel and China, is examined. Each chapter features a case study that highlights particular incidents and patterns of operation in specific regions, including Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, and Libya and strike types (signature strikes, personality strikes, etc.).

Introduction: The Drone Debate

Chapter 1: A Brief Overview of Aerial Drones and their Military Use by the United States
Case Study: The U.S. Drone Campaign in Pakistan

Chapter 2: The Debate over Strategy: Are Drones Helping to Defeat al-Qaeda and Associated Forces?
Case Study: The Drone War in Yemen

Chapter 3: The Debate over Legality: Are Drone Strikes Permissible Under U.S. and International Law?
Case Study: Signature Strikes

Chapter 4: The Ethical Debate: Are Drone Strikes Compatible with the Ideals of Just War?
Case Study: Oversight and Accountability

Chapter 5: The Politics of Drone Strikes: What Political Considerations Shape the U.S. Drone Policy?
Case Study: Interesting Drone Polls

Chapter 6: Emerging Issues: Will Armed Drones Proliferate Rapidly and What Impact Will They Have on International Security?
Case Study: Non-U.S. Drone Strikes

Conclusion: The Age of Drones?

About the Authors
Index

Few political topics have drawn such debate in recent years both domestically and internationally as the continued American military reliance on unmanned aerial vehicles as part of overseas conflict strategy. Plaw, Fricker, and Colon masterfully cover the breadth and depth of drone usage across the globe. By examining drones from the perspectives of military strategy, ethics, and international law, the book avoids falling into any single approach to framing the drone debate—which most similar works unfortunately do. Furthermore, the authors craft a compelling narrative regarding international opinions about the use of drones, although the cited research is restrictive compared to all that is available. Most important, the book is not entirely US-centric; the authors look at how China and Israel use drones in their military strategies. Case studies from different countries focus on patterns and strike types, adding clear examples that help readers understand how complex the drone debate truly is. The book will speak to all readers from drone experts to those simply seeking more knowledge.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.