Skip to main content
Book cover for An Introduction to Science, Technology, Warfare and Peace open access

Publication date: 1 October 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.9781800089549

Number of illustrations: 6

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

An Introduction to Science, Technology, Warfare and Peace

Brian Balmer (Author)

This textbook introduces how sociology, history and philosophy of science and technology (Science and Technology Studies or STS) approach the topic of war and security. It covers key concepts and theoretical approaches in STS and how they offer new insight into critical security, war and peace studies. To make the theory accessible, the book draws on seminal and contemporary empirical case studies, from weapons of mass destruction to everyday security and surveillance.

This textbook is ideal for students with no background knowledge of STS or as an introduction for more advanced researchers in other fields that study war and security, including politics and international relations, history, geography, sociology and anthropology.

Designed to support both independent and classroom learning, each carefully structured chapter begins by listing its key features and concepts so that readers understand the coverage at a glance. Chapters end with discussion questions to encourage critical thinking and suggested further readings. Online resources offer additional support in the form of learning activities and answer prompts for the discussion questions.

Sign up to our newsletter

Don't miss out!
Subscribe to the UCL Press newsletter for the latest open access books,
journal CfPs, news and views from our authors and much more!