Governing from the skies : a global history of aerial bombing

**The history of the war from the past one hundred years is a history of bombing**__"Tripoli, 1 November 1911: I decided that today I would try to drop bombs from the aeroplane ... if I succeed I shall be happy to have been the first."____—Italian Lieutenant Giulio Gavotti__At its inception, aerial bombardment was a weapon of empire deployed to subdue colonial populations. Soon, during the Second World War, civilians in Europe and Japan came into the bomber's crosshairs, and ever since non-combatant targets have been at the heart of military strategy. It was a seismic shift in the relations of power: as the state justified the mass murder of civilians, individual combatants, flying high above their victims, were distanced from the act of killing as never before.The ascendance of drones as an instrument of military power is the latest stage in this cruel evolution, which has led to a perpetual low-intensity war on the global scene. As the technology... The history of the war from the past one hundred years is a history of bombing “Tripoli, 1 November 1911: I decided that today I would try to drop bombs from the aeroplane ... if I succeed I shall be happy to have been the first.” —Italian Lieutenant Giulio Gavotti At its inception, aerial bombardment was a weapon of empire deployed to subdue colonial populations. Soon, during the Second World War, civilians in Europe and Japan came into the bomber’s crosshairs, and ever since non-combatant targets have been at the heart of military strategy. It was a seismic shift in the relations of power: as the state justified the mass murder of civilians, individual combatants, flying high above their victims, were distanced from the act of killing as never before. The ascendance of drones as an instrument of military power is the latest stage in this cruel evolution, which has led to a perpetual low-intensity war on the global scene. As the technology enabling it spreads through the world, the borders of the conflict will grow in proportion. In this short and fascinating history of aerial warfare, Thomas Hippler brings together all the major themes of the past century: nationalism, democracy, totalitarianism, colonialism, globalization, the welfare state and its decline, and the rise of neoliberalism. Air power is the defining characteristic of modern warfare; as Hippler demonstrates, it is also ingrained in the nature of modern politics. The history of the war from the past one hundred years is a history of bombing Ever since its invention, aviation has embodied the dream of perpetual peace between nations, yet the other side of this is the nightmare of an unprecedented deadly power. A power initially deployed on populations that the colonizers deemed too restive, it was then used to strike the cities of Europe and Japan during World War II. With air war it is now the people who are directly taken as target, the people as support for the war effort, and the sovereign people identified with the state. This amounts to a democratisation of war, and so blurs the distinction between war and peace. This is the political shift that has led us today to a world governance under United States hegemony defined as 'perpetual low-intensity war', which is presently striking regions such as Yemen and Pakistan, but which tomorrow could spread to the whole world population. Air war thus brings together the major themes of the past century: the nationalization of societies and war, democracy and totalitarianism, colonialism and decolonization, Third World-ism and globalization, and the welfare state and its decline in the face of neoliberalism. The history of aerial bombing offers a privileged perspective for writing a global history of the twentieth century. From the Hardcover edition With Air War It Is Now The People Who Are Directly Taken As Target, The People As Support For The War Effort, And The Sovereign People Identified With The State. This Amounts To A Democratisation Of War, And So Blurs The Distinction Between War And Peace. This Is The Political Shift That Has Led Us Today To A World Governance Under United States Hegemony Defined As 'perpetual Low-intensity War', Which Is Presently Striking Regions Such As Yemen And Pakistan, But Which Tomorrow Could Spread To The Whole World Population. Air War Thus Brings Together The Major Themes Of The Past Century: The Nationalization Of Societies And War, Democracy And Totalitarianism, Colonialism And Decolonization, Third World-ism And Globalization, And The Welfare State And Its Decline In The Face Of Neoliberalism. The History Of Aerial Bombing Offers A Privileged Perspective For Writing A Global History Of The Twentieth Century. Land, Sea, And Air -- Towards Perpetual Peace -- The Knights Of The Sky -- The Colonial Matrix -- Civilization, Cosmopolitism, And Democracy -- People And Populace -- Philosophy Of The Bomb -- Making And Unmaking A People -- 'revolutionary War' Beneath The Nuclear Shield -- World Governance And Perpetual War. Thomas Hippler ; Translated By David Fernbach. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.