The Dual-Use Dilemma: Balancing International Norms and National Security
Abstract
The distinction between civilian and military assets blurs in an ever-connected world due to an intermingling of dual-use capabilities. Such fusion results in questions regarding the handling, targeting, and leveraging of dual-use assets. Specifically, one asks how the U.S. should redefine a legitimate military objective and adjust U.S. policy in response to the strategic landscape. Traditional wartime roles are eroding and, instead, permitting dual-use technology and dual-use civilians to stress the traditionally held views of just war theory and call into question key aspects of individual culpability beyond that of uniformed combatants. As a result, the U.S. military must address the changing trend of warfare and what is targetable under international law. The law sets a minimum baseline, yet the U.S. needs to identify its moral baseline regarding targeting dual-use capabilities and how that affects national security objectives. The dual-use dilemma is one where international laws and state practices must reflect the reality of non-combatant influence in conflict. Protection for civilians and their assets has, rightly, always been a core tenet of just war. Still, their protection is not absolute. Accountability and culpability need to reflect modern warfare, where ethical fighting aligns with the pursuit of national strategic interests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1224977
Entities
People
- Jordan D Craft
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School