Abstract:
Drones are a relatively new development which fundamentally alter the nature of warfare. As the first non-human ‘combatants’ they require to ask how they fit within a Just War Theory framework. This thesis shows the core issues raised by both remotely-piloted drones and lethal autonomous weapons, both Ius ad bellum and Ius in bello. We find that in reality, drones, despite their potential to better adhere to principles of Ius in bello, create complex situations in which different ethical principles have to be weighed against each other.
