Twenty Years On: Iraq Webinar Series

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‘Twenty Years On’ Webinar Series: Technology’s Influence on the Nature of Warfare and Humanitarian Action

Over the course of 2023, the Program on Forced Migration and Health at Columbia University and the Columbia Global Center in Amman have been co-convening a webinar series to mark the 20th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq and reflect on its enduring impact on the humanitarian landscape. Culminating the series is this fourth and final webinar exploring technology’s influence on the nature of warfare and humanitarian action which is co-hosted with the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism.

The 9/11 attacks and subsequent invasion of Iraq marked the onset of a period characterized by swift advancements in military technology, resulting in a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare and in far-reaching effects on humanitarian action. The advancement of technology has ushered in a new phase of war strategy in which satellite surveillance, drones, precision munitions, artificial intelligence, and other technologies increasingly complicate the nature of conflict and change the experiences of civilians living in conflict zones. This panel will explore how technology has been harnessed in war, creating new vulnerabilities for civilians, while also offering innovative opportunities within humanitarian systems established to safeguard individuals exposed to conflict.