The MeHuCo-Network published the dossier “Autonomous weapon systems – Conditions and limits of meaningful human control”. It sheds light on the complex challenges regarding international AWS regulation, the question of accountability and the social and political consequences that arise from these new types of technology.
The paper has been published open access in the European Journal of International Security.
Cite: Hälterlein J. The more-than-human biopolitics of swarming – complexity, emergence, and control in military robotics. European Journal of International Security. Published online 2025:1-18. doi:10.1017/eis.2025.10023
We invite submissions for the closing conference of our research network, ‘Meaningful Human Control: Autonomous weapon systems between regulation and reflection’, which critically examines the many promises of algorithmic warfare, their world-making, performative forces as well as their ambiguities, limits and discrepancies. The current discourse is pervaded by buzzwords such as ‘value-based technologies’, ‘human in the loop’ and ‘responsible AI’, which are indicative here: while expressing the ethical demands on the part of the conventional arms industry and start-up technicians, they also appear to echo the values enshrined in international humanitarian law as well as the concerns of human and civil rights organisations and scientific expertise.
On October 12, 2025, Jutta Weber (Paderborn University) will give a lecture on Artificial Intelligence and War at the first Festival of Revolutionary Thought – Revolution No. 1: War and Peace, initiated by Sibylle Berg and Martin Sonneborn, at the Volksbühne in Berlin. She will also take part in the panel “Warfare and the Future. On Technorationality, Venture Capital, and Military Imaginaries.”
Together with other scientists such as Elke Schwarz (Queen Mary University London), Padraig O’Malley (mediator in post-conflict states), Ruth Rohde (Shadow World Investigations), and Shona Illingworth (University of Kent), they will discuss ways of thinking a world in peace and present practical techniques for preventing wars before they arise.
The event will be supported by various exhibitions, choirs, and artists.
https://www.volksbuehne.berlin/en/repertoire/revolution-nr-1-krieg-und-frieden
The Promises of Algorithmic Warfare – and Their World-Making Effects
Artificial intelligence and autonomous weapon systems are increasingly shaping the strategies and tactics of warfare. It is not only current wars, such as those on Ukraine and in Gaza, that contribute to the accelerated development and deployment of algorithmic technologies, but also the promises associated with them: the promise of a technology that is much faster than human agency, and the adversary; whose decision-making is unaffected by emotions, unlike human agency; that is precise and efficient, but also ethical; that guarantees information superiority, and is also accessible to control and legal regulation. Promises are powerful: they shape our imaginations and expectations, and they encourage us to take action and realise our visions. Promises have real-world effects.
The conference “The Promises of Algorithmic Warfare – and their World-Making Effects” critically examines the many promises of algorithmic warfare, their world-making, performative forces as well as their ambiguities, limits and discrepancies. The current discourse is pervaded by buzzwords such as ‘value-based technologies’, ‘human in the loop’ and ‘responsible AI’, which are indicative here: while expressing the ethical demands on the part of the conventional arms industry and start-up technicians, they also appear to echo the values enshrined in international humanitarian law as well as the concerns of human and civil rights organisations and scientific expertise.
We invite submissions that explore the promises, practices, and effects of algorithmic warfare from diverse analytical perspectives. We particularly welcome contributions from: STS, media studies, affect and emotion theory, critical anthropology and postcolonial studies, discourse analysis and literary studies as well as technological and legal perspectives. We invite contributions enganging with the following themes and questions, among others:
We also welcome analysis of specific conflicts, technologies, or policy debates that shed light on the broader dynamics of algorithmic warfare.
Conference Language: English
Travel Costs: We will cover the cost for travel and accommodation for presenters according to the university’s regulations.
Submission Guidelines:
Organizers:
Prof. Dr. Susanne Krasmann (susanne.krasmann@uni-hamburg.de)
Dr. Stephanie Schmidt (stephanie.schmidt@uni-hamburg.de)
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
Social Sciences, Sociology
Von-Melle-Park 5
20146 Hamburg