Virtual Theory of Virtual War

The virtual theory of virtual war (eng. Virtuous war) is a politiological theory developed by James Der Derian . Virtual theory claims that any reproduction of facts is preceded by an interpretation transmitted by the media and creating a new virtuality. Virtual theory does not deny the existence of "reality", but seeks to understand how new technologies affect it.

Content

About the Author

James der Derian (born 1955) is a global security researcher. He has held the position of Director of the Center for International Security Disciplines at the University of Sydney since 2013. He was educated at McGill University and Rhodes at Balliol College at Oxford University, where he received a Master of Philosophy and a Ph.D. in international relations. ^[1] In Balliol one of his main mentors was Hadley Bull (classic of the modern British school of international relations).

Der Derian is a postmodernist . Postmodernism does not constitute a separate scientific school or a unified approach to international relations. His followers ( J. Der Derian , M. Walzer , R. Shapiro , R. Ashley, and others) insist that rationalism, on which modern science is built, is by no means the best approach to understanding MO. In their opinion, the Ministry of Defense is the result and process of political and other actions, and at the same time a product of our knowledge.

Postmodernists are denied the right to the existence of any conceptual theoretical constructs, they consider it an illegal return to rationalism, the creation of any categorical apparatus. Their main conviction is that MO, like all social reality, is the result of our own thoughts and actions, that they do not exist on their own, regardless of our cognition and the methods used. Therefore, paradigms, torii, concepts, methodologies are not so much tools of cognition as tools for constructing international reality; they do not so much reflect how many international factors, events, norms and processes create. ^[2]

The essence of the virtual theory of virtual war

The end of the last millennium was a difficult period for the discipline and science of international relations. Many theories have been unable to predict the fall of the Berlin Wall or the collapse of the USSR . Meanwhile, during the first decade of the new millennium, non-state actors have significantly increased their influence. ^[3] It was during this period that James Der Derian, based on liberal ideas, wrote the work of Virtuous war and developed a virtual theory of virtual war, reflecting on the development of technologies used for so-called "virtuous wars . "

Virtuous War

In his research, Der Derian combines two tendencies ( Informatization and humanization of war ) into a single phenomenon of virtuous war . In this pun, two originally related etymologically, but today completely different words came together: virtual - virtual and virtuous - virtuous. ^[4] Modern “virtuous war” provides an opportunity to use the potential of new technologies to achieve ethical goals. Actualization of violence, if it comes to it, occurs remotely and with a minimum number of victims. As a result, the modern war becomes bloodless and even humanitarian. This means that "technology in the service of virtue has created a global form of virtual violence, a virtuous war." ^[five]

The researcher cites statistics showing that, at least by the United States, the number of military casualties is indeed decreasing. Thus, in the Persian Gulf War, the Americans lost 270 soldiers, during the battle in Mogadishu, 18 people, and the air operation in Kosovo was marked by zero losses from NATO . ^[four]

Virtuous war, however, does not mean a decrease in the number of victims for the opposite side. On the contrary, remote destruction technologies alienate the fighter from the results of his actions, abstract responsibility, with the result that the killings simply cease to be noticed.

Virtuous War and Technology

Derian’s main argument in the “Virtuous War” is that technology has always helped in the conduct of the war and their use is not in itself something new. However, the ability to carry out violence over long distances without any minimal losses changes the picture of the modern world. ^[6]

Also, virtual war shows increased use and reliance on technology during the war. New technologies of simulation and modeling, as well as speed, have destroyed the geographical space, the difference between reality and the virtual reality of war. As this confusion grows, we are now faced with the danger of the phenomenon of trauma without sight , when the war shown on television is difficult to distinguish from a computer game. New media, commonly referred to as digital, interactive, network forms of communication (video broadcasting, satellite communication lines, global mapping, distributed computing system), now have a global effect, or even have a ubiquitous presence through real-time access, which allows virtuous war "get" any person through the TV screen or computer.

Impact on society

Derian argues that as the virtuous war arose, there also appeared a “virtual alliance” between the military and the media, which created the “military-industrial media entertainment network” or MIMENET ^[7] . Der Derian reformulated the statement of the former US President Eisenhower about the military-industrial complex , which, according to Eisenhower (1961), “will dominate public life” . Derian believes that MIMENET is a new development, since it is capable of “easily combining production, representation and execution of war” (merge the production, representation and execution of war). ^[eight]

Der Derian writes about the obvious use by the armed forces of the media and the readiness of the media to receive and disseminate the information that the military provide them, instead of critically evaluating it and allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions.

Criticism

Der Derian does not position his theory as a challenge to existing theories, but rather as a beginning for discussion, discussion (“to intrigue, not to instruct” ). In the 2012 article on the virtuous war, Der Derian states that he does not want to give any definition, since they do not contribute to the discussion. Der Derian concludes that in the school of international relations in the aftermath of September 11, realists are fatalists who miss the " stability of the bipolar world," and "the liberals are waiting for a multipolar world that cannot arise." ^[9]

James Der Derian positions "Virtuous War" as an intermediate position ( intellectual middle ground ), " critical, but pragmatic pluralism for understanding life in an increasingly multi-polar world . " Der Derian relies on an “ interdisciplinary” approach that includes journalistic observations, official interviews, personal experience, links to films and TV shows of the 1990s, the theory of international relations, government publications, and other sources.

In general, the virtual theory, according to Der Derian, rejects " philosophical realism and positivism that underlie most theories of the social sciences, where words transparently reflect objects, facts are separate from values, and theory is independent of the reality that it is trying to explain . " ^[ten]

Literature

• Der Derian, J. International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-) Vol. 76, No. 4 (Oct., 2000), pp. 771-788.

• Der Derian, J. Virtuous war / virtual theory // Der Derian J. Critical Practices of international theory. Selected essays. - NY, 2009.

• Der Derian, J. (2013). From War 2.0 to quantum war Australian Journal of International Affairs, 67 (5), 570-585.

• Der Derian, J. (2013). War becomes an academic: Human Terrain, virtuous war and contemporary militarism. An interview with James Der Derian. In Anna Stavrianakis, Jan Selby (Eds.), Militarism and International Relations: Political Economy, Security, Theory, (pp. 59–74). London: Routledge.