Description
Over the past two decades, drones have transformed war(s) and the conduct of hostilities. While the effects of their use have sparked extensive debate – particularly in the context of counterterrorism operations – disagreement seems to persist regarding their role in and effects on coercion. While some scholars argue that drones’ loitering capabilities come with increased coercive potential vis-à-vis other weapons, others see (the threat of) ‘remote warfare’ as lacking the resolve shown by ‘boots on the ground’. This paper builds on the existing literature on gender and drone violence to look at a more integrated use of armed drones in contemporary wars. It argues that assessing the coercive character of armed drones requires consideration beyond their technological capabilities and highlights the importance of the socio-political context in evaluating their coercive effects. Adopting a feminist perspective, it posits that the ambiguous coercive character of armed drones stems from their simultaneous hyper-masculinising and feminising effects for the states that deploy them. Ultimately, this paper provides insights into the gendered nature of armed drones and indicates how taking a feminist approach to the question of whether drones can coerce requires us to rethink the concept of coercion itself.
