Reflections on Defence Research

To me, researching defence involves navigating the intersection of intellectual inquiry and the practical realities of organised violence. As I am interested in critical research, I view most of defence research an intellectual pursuit linked to the material and political dimensions of coercive capabilities. This creates a duality of research as both an academic exercise and an inquiry of power dynamics.

In turn, this poses unique ethical and intellectual challenges for me as a researcher of security and defence. I often find that many topics within defence research requires focusing on the mechanisms of coercion such as weapons systems, nuclear capabilities, or the logistics of force projection. This focus inevitably draws researchers into a world where academic knowledge converges with the realities of harm. For example, I view interoperability of various battle tank projects not just as a defence policy matter or a technological issue, but also as an instrument of destruction. Similarly, I see research on military strategy as crafting intellectual blueprints for controlling and, if necessary, dismantling adversaries. Researching such issues places me into a particular position that necessitates critical reflection on my own positionality within global structures of power.

To me, the moral weight of these implications distinguishes defence research from other fields. I view defence research as innately tied to the exercise of power over life and death. As a result, I face a critical question: How do I reconcile the pursuit of knowledge with the ethical ramifications of researching military tools and organised violence? Rather than arguing that defence research is inherently harmful, in my research I try to show an awareness of these questions. I do not have definitive answers to them, but in my view, critical inquiries into defence research can open the way for non-violent tools of security.