The concept of smartwar: A theoretical framework

Authors : Orkun Öz, Aslıhan Ünal

Pages : 35-57

View : 84 | Download : 95

Publication Date : 2024-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :With the exponential developments in information technologies “Smart” as a one-size-fits-all has bocome a popular term nowadays in literature and media. Smartphones, smart watches, smart devices, smart technology, smart weapons, and smart war… Besides, these developments have given rise to the debate as “Has the concept of war been changed?”, “What does smart war mean to humanity?”, “What are the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence-based technology in warfare”, “What is the type of war humankind experiences today?”, “Has the dynamics of war changed?”, etc. Hence, the advances in technology have started to influence the nature of war. Although the term “smart war” become popular, it is realized that a few studies have been conducted on this concept. There are many studies on artificial intelligence in warfare, electronic warfare, autonomous weapon systems, drones, smart weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), robot soldiers, etc. but a gap in the literature is the lack of a comprehensive work that examines the similarities of the conflicts in terms of strategies, weapons, and actors in the age of IT. This study is conducted to fill this gap in the literature. The purpose of this study is to examine modern conflicts that arise with the exponential developments in IT and put forward a theoretical framework that explains the smart war concept. For this purpose, the answer to the research question “How can the smart war concept be defined?” was examined by adopting an exploratory approach and following grounded theory methodology. As a result, a theoretical framework that explains the smart war concept in four dimensions -antecedents, actors, technologies, and strategies introduced. Further, the framework was evaluated through real-world cases of conflict.
Keywords : akıllı savaş, bilişim teknolojisi, yapay zeka, modern savaş, gömülü teori