Introduction
Technology has been regarded as a major source of social, economic and political change, and in almost every instance, it has been regarded as the master variable that has the potential to explain almost everything. For instance, technology has played key role in economics through being responsible to the process of opening up opportunities for economic growth (Herrera 3).
In communication, technology has become the main tool and process that is influencing and directing political structure of almost all human societies and Marxism; and other numerous social theories have at length explained the structure and change of human society and economy as a result of advancement in technological base.
In addition, the role of technological development has not only been limited to these areas but has also influenced international politics where great transformation has occurred since the time of medieval to the modern stage.
Notably, technology has been the main influence in gun development, the sailing of the ship, growth in development of literature and this became more evident with the end of the feudalism and the subsequent emergence of states systems in Western Europe specifically during the 17th century.
The main objective of this paper will be to analyze international politics and how it continue to be affected and influenced by technology with special attention to how change in ship technology affected international politics.
Technology in the perspective of international politics
The development of nuclear weapons especially towards the end of 20th century led to numerous literatures being developed on the system-altering effects of technology and by the end of the cold war, many questions were asked about technology and the system change (Hererra 3).
What is evident is that the expansion and growth of digital information technologies has led to speculation on their potential and real impact on international affairs. For example, there is a section of people who are convinced that technology is responsible for the transformation of many national-state systems into postmodern world order or even what others refer to as post-international politics that is fast becoming global world.
International political experts assert that the relationship between technology and international politics can be experienced almost everywhere; thus, by redefining international system to incorporate technology, technology subsequently becomes a political phenomenon to be studied and analyzed. There is no doubt that the relationship between international politics and technology is essential and equally constitutive and that technology is extremely rooted in international and domestic political cultures.
When analysis of the impact of technology in other fields is carried out, it is evident that technology has been at forefront in instituting profound changes both positive and negative in society and as a result, the view in international politics is that technology needs to be considered as a transformative element of the international political system and reliable evidence emanates from their huge effects on force, security, geography, diplomacy and state-society relations together with the transnational processes that are behind their creation.
The origin of technology can be said to have been as a result of core sociopolitical events that were taking place in the world and that no major technological discoveries can be said to have been ‘discovered’ by humans nor was it an act of accident, but it can be seen that each technology was built to complete certain and fundamental human social, economic, political or security purposes.
Hence, the originality of each technology was a product of chance, contingency and also conjuncture. Particular choices and specific events with varying effects are attributed to the development of technologies in one way and not the other with significant impacts for international politics (Hererra 11).
Global Maritime threats
The modern world has had to contend with the fact that global piracy is not the only threat to international safety, specifically to the safety of merchant vessels but there are new forms of emerging security threats originating from maritime terrorism.
This has forced many nations and companies to rely more on ‘just in time’ delivery systems, thus showing how vessels of different countries are prone to terrorists groups that have the aim of disrupting global markets and peace. At the same time, peace and security situation in Middle East is more fragile, and the inevitability of ‘tanker wars’ in the region cannot be ruled out (Anon 1).
While in the recent past the concern of the West nations has been about Iraq’s security and threat, it is dawning on them that Iran, once a security collaborator in the region is fast constructing a vast fleet of missile and torpedo-armed fast boats, while numerous reports describe how the missiles are supplicated, with some indicating that they range from 39m missile-armed attack craft to jet skis that are further backed by irregular forces that well equipped with shoulder-fired rocket launchers (Anon 1).
Therefore, maritime security has apparently become an issue of concern that cannot be ignored or denied. Moreover, the naval military forces have taken up the challenge of protecting the merchant shipping from being attacked by aggressive warships or the paramilitary vessels. Indeed, major operations by the naval forces have extended to far regions such as the Arabian Gulf.
Ship technology and international relation
The field of international relations has for a long time been concerned with the issues of war, and tracing history with much focus to the Second World War, global attention has been accorded to the effects of weapons of mass destruction largely in the form of nuclear and biotechnology weapons.
Today, the role of ship building technology in its usage in transporting weapons among nations is under investigations. Ship technology in the recent times has evolved and developed to a level that its position and role in global security issues cannot be ignored.
In addition, history suggests that since the concept of ship sailing on water became possible to humankind, the world has continued to experience warriors, soldiers and sailors who often engage in fighting each other on ship, boats and all means of ship fighting. To an extent, excellent and sophiscated naval weaponry has for a long time been credited as determining factor in ensuring which country become the dominant power in their period or time.
History of ship war and its impacts can be traced back to the success of Athenians fighters over the most populated Persians during the fierce Battle of Salamis (Kimmons Para. 2), where naval weaponry ship was used.
Nevertheless, during the Roman and Carthaginian war, Romans were assured of success when they defeated populous Carthaginians fleets during the Straits of Messina battle (Kimmons par.2); and the technique they employed was one where they innovated the corvus – a kind of a drop-bridge used to allow the fighters to technically and in a fast move board the vessel belonging to enemies.
Therefore, sophiscated marine strength can be seen to have been the vital element to the dominance of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Spanish Empire and British Empire together with USA. British, for instance, came as a country that benefited from marine technology especially with regard to ship technology from late 18th century to early 20th century (Kimmons Para. 3).
In addition, British were particular successful due to their current and improved ship technology which in turn allowed the country to conquer various parts of the globe where it was easy and fast to transport soldiers to areas where they were needed urgently during the timers of war while at the same time ensuring there was adequate and sufficient supply of materials to these areas.
The Gulf War was a period that witnesses some exemplary manifestation of high-tech military weapons and technology whereby America came out as a respected military power.
Huge personnel and large equipment were transported to the Gulf region and estimates show that the whole personnel and equipment in this region was equivalent to the entire population together with all automobiles and other infrastructures of Oklahoma City (Welch Para. 1).
Recounting the successes and failures of the Gulf War, the USA military department suggested that there was need to improve the naval technology and ensure there is a faster and reliable sealift (Welch Para. 1).
The end of Cold War saw major changes taking place in the world where positively, the event saw a major reduction in threat of any substantive global conflict; however, this was not to be the case for regional conflicts as they remained potentially dangerous. Immediately after the end of the Cold War, two major regions (areas) were identified to be still major threats to international peace which constituted the Gulf and the Korean peninsula (Welch 2).
In addition, the Department of Defense became keen on developing and engaging two contingency operations concurrently. The developed strategy needed to be able to convey two huge forces through the use of airlift and sealift; however, observation made was that the existing sealift could not deliver the required services as it was not fast enough.
At the same time, it was observable that the airlift had the advantage of speed but unfortunately it didn’t have adequate capability to move heavy contingent that are necessary and needed by military personnel to respond fast to urgent crisis. As a result, it became the concern of key military stakeholders in US army to innovate and develop necessary solutions which in turn would strengthen the sealift capabilities of US especially in protecting the national vital interests (Welch 2).
Such concerns by the American defense force were born from the international threats the country got exposed to due to its global activities especially in military. Subsequently, there has been some concern on the advancement of technology taking place in the field of shipping. For instance, technological advancement has enhanced construction of modern, efficient and fast ships that can effectively and reliably be used in the US military naval activities.
High-Speed Sealift (HSS) are the new and sophiscated oceangoing cargo vessels that have speed abilities of minimally 40 knots or higher (Welch 3). These types of ships are different from the traditional naval ships used by military which have a capacity of 30 knots such as the Sea-Land SL-7’s. FSS has been built using sophiscated and high technology that constitute HSS hulls and engines whereas the traditional ones were built using convectional hulls and power plants (Welch p.3).
HSS technology has immensely contributed to construction of ships that have the capacity of having 40 knots or higher which have been able to meet the needs of Department of Defense in promptly delivering huge combat forces to different global areas experiencing crisis. Therefore, High-Speed Ship technology is seen to have the potential of satisfying needs especially of speed.
Conclusion
In the new 21st century, ship technology has particularly advantaged the advanced and established nations of the world over the non-state aggressive groups.
The continuing threats emanating from terrorists groups and hostile nations such as Iran and North Korea provides a picture of how the naval military is going to depend and foster ship technology in order to be adequately and efficiently prepared to deal with this threat. Hence, ship technology in terms of international relations is seen to be influenced by heightening global security concerns, terrorism, piracy and more importantly, national security concerns.
What should not be forgotten is that adequate support should also be accorded to the Department of Defense and this can be achieved through bringing together the US Transportation Command, the Congress and private sectors and pooling the necessary resources needed to develop the modern High-Speed vessel that not only accomplishes the needs of military but also ensures American maritime security in the 21st century is perfectly strong.
Works Cited
Anon. Maritime threats and countermeasures: the latest piracy report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows 87 attacks on merchant ships in the first three months of the year 2002-the worst quarter’s figures since 1991. Web.
Herrera, Geoffrey L. Technology and International Transformation: The Railroad, the Atom Bomb, and the Politics of Technological Change. NY, SUNY Press. Web.
Kimmons, Ronald. Naval Weapons Technology. Web.
Welch, Don. “High-speed ship technology: maritime vessels for the 21st century.” Transportational Journal. Web.