The Drone Paradox: Fighting Terrorism with Mechanized Terror

26 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2016 Last revised: 7 Dec 2017

See all articles by Christopher J. Coyne

Christopher J. Coyne

George Mason University - Department of Economics

Abigail R Hall

University of Tampa

Date Written: July 27, 2016

Abstract

The U.S. government’s covert drone program is a defining aspect of its military strategy in its transnational “War on Terror.” We highlight a fundamental paradox with the use of drones to combat terrorism. The U.S. government justifies drones as an efficient method for weakening, and ultimately ending, the threat of global terrorism. Drones, however, create terror among foreign populations. Drone strikes may annihilate specific targets, but they do not eliminate terror, which is instead propagated by the U.S. government’s drone program.

Keywords: drones, drone strikes, terror, terrorism, War on Terror

Suggested Citation

Coyne, Christopher J. and Hall, Abigail R, The Drone Paradox: Fighting Terrorism with Mechanized Terror (July 27, 2016). GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 16-29, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2815135 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2815135

Christopher J. Coyne (Contact Author)

George Mason University - Department of Economics ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.ccoyne.com/

Abigail R Hall

University of Tampa ( email )

401 W Kennedy Blvd Box O
Tampa, FL 33606

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