Some of these technologies may prove to be blind alleys or have marginal impact—but others could cause unforeseen disruptions to traditionally accepted ‘rules’ of how military power works. Yes, the technology by itself may not be a game changer. But when harnessed to a larger military machine, when tactics and doctrine on their employment are devised and tested and finally deployed in a relevant context—then history shows the game can change with stunning speed.

Resisting institutional inertia and inherited wisdom to think ahead how the game may change is healthy and vital. Doing so need not be an exercise in alarmism, nor a call for fearmongering politics casting competing states as diabolical foes. However, it does require thinking how established relationships and ‘rules’ in hard and soft power may change as technology, economies, societies and militaries evolve over time—and planning ahead accordingly.

Sébastien Roblin holds a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing, and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring. This article first appeared two years ago.

Image: Flickr.