Technological change and international relations

Bibliographic Data

ID4444260
AuthorsDaniel W Drezner (Tufts University), Daniel Drezner (0000-0001-6347-309X, Tufts University, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume33
Issue2
Pages286-303
Publication date2019-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Relations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-1178 • E-ISSN: 1741-2862
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0047117819834629
OpenAlexW2923192835
LanguageEN
Citations received27

This article reflects on the role that technological change has played in the last century on international relations. It makes two main points. First, the relationship is reciprocal; while technological change has undeniable effects on international relations, the changing nature of world politics also affects the pace of technological change. Second, any technological change is also an exercise in economic redistribution and societal disruption. It creates new winners and losers, alters actor preferences, and allows the strategic construction of new norms and organizations. The nature of the technology itself, and the extent to which the public sector drives the innovation, generates differential effects on international relations. To demonstrate these arguments, special emphasis is placed on two important innovations of the last century for international relations: nuclear weapons and the Internet

Economic system · Economics · International relations · International relations theory · Pace · Political change · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Post-realism · Reciprocal · Redistribution (election) · Sociology · Technological change · Economic and Technological Innovation · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Space exploration and regulation