Political Implications of Military Nanotechnology

International politics and policy today are driven in part by the threat of military force. In some cases, technologies are so dangerous and deadly that they require special international treaties and policies to govern them. Weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons have been targeted with international treaties and agreements to prevent widespread death and destruction. Examples of WMD treaties include the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972, the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions of 1972 and 1993, and nuclear testing treaties of 1963 and 1996.

Nanotechnologies are particularly worrisome because they could be covert and difficult to detect. On the other hand, defensive nanotechnologies could be developed as sensitive detectors for biological or chemical agents to assist in verifying arms control agreements and protecting societies.

One of the most problematic areas of military nanotechnology is in chemical and biological weapons. Combining the fields of biology, genetics, chemistry, and nanotechnology could result in weapons that have precise targeting capabilities and can be transported across borders more easily than conventional weapons due to their size. Other military nanotechnologies include satellites, unmanned military vehicles, highly accurate missiles, and robotic soldiers.

Will military nanotechnology lead to a new arms race like the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, leading to global confrontation between the world’s superpowers? It is difficult to predict how the technology will be developed and the implications for global policy. However, it is safe to assume that nanotechnology create new challenges for governments in dealing with WMD security and political stability.

Further Reading:

• Altmann, Jurgen. 2004. Anticipating military nanotechnology, IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 23(4):33-40.
• Tolles, W.M. 2000. National security aspects of nanotechnology, Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, edited by Mihail C. Roco and Williams Sims Bainbridge, Boston, MA: Kluwer, 218-237.