Moving the techno-science gap in Security Force Assistance

ABSTRACT

This paper looks at the impact of military technology diffusion on military assistance operations (MAO), in the United States known as Security Force Assistance or SFA. The discussion looks conceptually at the role of technological change and how it interacts with martial cultures in military assistant operations. I argue that growing trends in science and technology suggest potential conflicts between culture and technology. Relying on a culture-technology model drawn from anthropology, the paper contends that new technologies will present increasing challenges for the emerging MAO landscape. The paper will illustrate that the techno-science gap will continue to grow as innovations such as robotics, sensors, and networks continue to develop. Finally, the paper will look at ways to overcome this conflict between culture and technology.

KEYWORDS:

• Defence
• technology
• culture
• military assistance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. On the Third Offset, see http://www.dodlive.mil/2016/03/30/3rd-offset-strategy-101-what-it-is-what-the-tech-focuses-are/ (accessed 23 November 2018).

2. For a review of the literature on culture and technology, see Leidner and Kayworth 2006, 360–373.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council [AH/N504270/1].

Notes on contributors

David J. Galbreath

David J. Galbreath is Professor of International Security and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Bath, UK. His research focuses on the relationship between science and technology and military affairs. His work has been funded most recently by the ESRC, AHRC and Leverhulme Trust. He is the former editor of Defence Studies (2014-16) as well as European Security (2009-2015). He is co-editor of the Routledge Handbook on Defence Studies, with John Deni. His current project, funded by the ESRC and AHRC is entitled “Forever vigilant? Technology and the rise of boundless warfare” (AH/N504270/1).