802
8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
[54] So it makes sense to direct most efforts and resources toward the psychological
manipulation of the enemy instead of toward the physical destruction of things and
the killing of people, which are really secondary to the subjugation of the enemy’s
will.
If this goal could be accomplished through the technical manipulation of an
enemy’s brain, which is responsible for our perceptions, emotions, and thinking, no
violence would be necessary at all.
Any power that could master “mind control” technology would have achieved
afar greater advantage than simply having a nuclear bomb while others have not.
At the same time, the use of neuroweapons against entire societies would be
much more acceptable than the use of nuclear weapons. As a result, nations
will be interested in developing not only neuroweapons, but maybe also dedicated
neurowarfare forces (they don’t really fit the definition of military forces now)
doctrine.
It is still hard for classically trained military men to imagine how “cognitive
forces” could look like and how they could engage each other in a hypothetical
“neurospace”, “where there is only virtuality, digital worlds, or pure consciousness,
yet the manifestations and artifices of such combat occur in the realm of the material.”
[55] There are already multiple divisions of military and special services that are
actively working in this direction; however, due to obvious reasons, we will not
find any results of such studies on the Internet. It is clear from the above that today
there are already obvious threats and complications that are either only visible in the
horizon or cause deep concerns.
8.6.8 Features and Advantages of the USA, Russia,
and China in the Neural Arms Race
Unfortunately, the broad proliferation of neuro S/T to a wide range of state and nonstate actors is a very likely scenario, as much neuro S/T is inherently dual-use and
mostly developed for medical purposes.
For example, it would be difficult to deny countries advanced brain scanning and
other neurotechnologies on the grounds of national security. Much of the technology
described above could be in reach for non-state actors and even private individuals.
Neural devices, such as BCIs and neural implants and prostheses could become very
widespread across society within a decade or less. Even some primitive DEW that
target the brain or central nervous system do not in principle require resources that
are beyond skilled individuals with moderate financial means.
Currently, there are few indications of an ongoing global neuro S/T arms race. For
example, several nations outside the West have recently made substantial investments
in medical neuroscience research, namely, Japan, India, Iran, and China.
Ten years ago, the 2008 National Research Council report also cautioned there
could be a rapid expansion and escalation in the neuroscience degradation market
8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
[54] So it makes sense to direct most efforts and resources toward the psychological
manipulation of the enemy instead of toward the physical destruction of things and
the killing of people, which are really secondary to the subjugation of the enemy’s
will.
If this goal could be accomplished through the technical manipulation of an
enemy’s brain, which is responsible for our perceptions, emotions, and thinking, no
violence would be necessary at all.
Any power that could master “mind control” technology would have achieved
afar greater advantage than simply having a nuclear bomb while others have not.
At the same time, the use of neuroweapons against entire societies would be
much more acceptable than the use of nuclear weapons. As a result, nations
will be interested in developing not only neuroweapons, but maybe also dedicated
neurowarfare forces (they don’t really fit the definition of military forces now)
doctrine.
It is still hard for classically trained military men to imagine how “cognitive
forces” could look like and how they could engage each other in a hypothetical
“neurospace”, “where there is only virtuality, digital worlds, or pure consciousness,
yet the manifestations and artifices of such combat occur in the realm of the material.”
[55] There are already multiple divisions of military and special services that are
actively working in this direction; however, due to obvious reasons, we will not
find any results of such studies on the Internet. It is clear from the above that today
there are already obvious threats and complications that are either only visible in the
horizon or cause deep concerns.
8.6.8 Features and Advantages of the USA, Russia,
and China in the Neural Arms Race
Unfortunately, the broad proliferation of neuro S/T to a wide range of state and nonstate actors is a very likely scenario, as much neuro S/T is inherently dual-use and
mostly developed for medical purposes.
For example, it would be difficult to deny countries advanced brain scanning and
other neurotechnologies on the grounds of national security. Much of the technology
described above could be in reach for non-state actors and even private individuals.
Neural devices, such as BCIs and neural implants and prostheses could become very
widespread across society within a decade or less. Even some primitive DEW that
target the brain or central nervous system do not in principle require resources that
are beyond skilled individuals with moderate financial means.
Currently, there are few indications of an ongoing global neuro S/T arms race. For
example, several nations outside the West have recently made substantial investments
in medical neuroscience research, namely, Japan, India, Iran, and China.
Ten years ago, the 2008 National Research Council report also cautioned there
could be a rapid expansion and escalation in the neuroscience degradation market