“Into the Future.”

Black emphasizes the threats and new possibilities that will aid in recognizing the present and future state of warfare. The author emphasizes the role of civilians and social change in shaping military growth and influencing warfare shifts in modern society through political and fiscal regulations. They look at the integration of ideas as countries and militaries attempt to strengthen their combat capability, drawn together by parallels in technical advances and the unpredictability of possible collaboration and conflicts in this segment. However, the author acknowledges the existence of contrasting factors such as the consumerist perspectives and the political influences and idealistic associations of war and social factors. Black states “Indeed, the division here between Western and non-Western societies is far less than was the case in the 1960s and 1970s when Mao’s China appeared to be the non-Western archetype and sought to lead non-Western guerrilla movements accordingly, notably in Africa and Southeast Asia (249-250)”. The statement highlights the convergence in military ideologies and strategies in the contemporary society unlike in past where they had differing ideas and warfare approaches. In illustrating differences in current world militaries, the author states ”regional contrast between Western militaries most concerned with counterinsurgency capabilities and international intervention accordingly, notably the European powers, and those focused on regular warfare (251)”.

While Black understands the limitations associated with the prediction of future warfare capabilities and methods, he acknowledges the involvement of different military personnel regarding skills and other capital warfare resources such as technological changes that offer advantages in future conflicts depending on the degree of adaptability and exclusivity. In this case, he explains the possibilities of different combatants such as cyborgs and clones and the changes in warfare context such as increased warfare rather than conventional battles and wars. Additionally, the authors suggest the possibilities of integrating revolutionary means in enhancing each country’s war capabilities and the increased diffusion of weaponry. Black states that countries will not focus solely on developing weaponry that offers a competitive edge but depend on mutual technological advances allowing acquisition and sabotage as the world population begins experiencing other urgent pressures such as the maintenance of essential resources such as energy, water, and food.

Work Cited

Black, Jeremy. ”Into the Future.” War and Technology, Indiana University Press, 2013, pp. 245–263.