Technology is no longer just a tool; it is a socio-technical system that shapes the very fabric of political life. In her book 21. Yüzyılda Teknoloji, Güvenlik, Savaş: Yeni Sorular, Yeni Sorunlar, published by ITU Press, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Çalkıvik offers a thought-provoking exploration of the shifting frontiers of war, security, and technology in the 21st century. Bridging the disciplines of International Relations and Science-Technology-Society (STS) studies, Çalkıvik unpacks how technological advancements, from nuclear deterrence to cyber capabilities, autonomous weapons, “smart borders,” and the emerging field of astropolitics, are reshaping global risk perceptions, military structures, and patterns of human movement.
The book challenges readers to rethink technology not merely as a set of neutral tools but as deeply embedded in political power structures and decision-making processes. Through clear, accessible language and rich examples, Çalkıvik demonstrates how digital transformation has reconfigured the global security architecture, influencing everything from defense strategies to border control regimes. She highlights how new technologies can both enable and constrain human agency, creating novel vulnerabilities while also offering possibilities for resistance and reimagining.
Importantly, 21. Yüzyılda Teknoloji, Güvenlik, Savaş speaks to a wide audience; social scientists seeking to understand the politics of technology, as well as engineers and technical experts interested in the broader implications of their work. By encouraging critical reflection on the intersections of technology, security, and governance, the book calls attention to the risks of “technological sleepwalking”—the uncritical adoption of technological solutions without fully considering their political and ethical ramifications.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Çalkıvik’s work is a timely and essential contribution to contemporary debates on global security. It invites readers to ask new questions, confront emerging challenges, and rethink the role of technology in shaping the future of war and peace.