Technology in Headrick´s Power over People

As we progressed through the course, Modern World, the students were able to see various incidences of how technology either enhanced or deteriorated a civilization or a nation. One of the primary reads in the course was Headrick’s book, Power over Peoples. It is important to look at Headrick’s work and see just what is meant by his title, Power Over People. From what students have gathered, this means the use of technology as a means to gain an edge over another civilization, hence, using your power or technology to dominate another group of people. Furthermore, it is important to note just what is meant by the term “technology.” According to Headrick, technology is “all the ways in which humans use materials and energy in the environment for their own ends, beyond what they can do with their bodies.” From this definition, we can gather that technology is the ability to manipulate other things in our environment. It is also important to note that usually with greater technological power; one can take control over others. For example, Headrick gives the example of Europeans in their colonial era. More recently; however, Headricks view point can be viewed in a somewhat different manner. While superior technology can give one group an advantage initially, there is also a “window of opportunity” with the technology. An example of this is air power. When air power first started, it was unstoppable in traditional battle, but as time advanced the mighty planes became less effective when they encountered new tactics and asymmetrical warfare such as what happened in Vietnam. As we advance to 1999, time brings about another dilemma where the superior power uses technology, only this time there was both positives and negatives based on dif...

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...nd expansion. History has proven this time and time again. One of the reasons that the European empire was so successful was due to its great advanced in the realm of technology. But, what one must keep in mind is that with this technology comes the factor of time. As time ticks, technology may advance but also, people find ways around this technology or the technology fails you. For example, in Vietnam air power failed due to adaptation. Much like in Kosovo, technological use of air power failed due to other circumstances. While Serbians were driven out of Kosovo, murders went up and fighting increased due to people’s frustrations and will power ti fight for what they believe in. Therefore, while technology can gain a great edge over your opponents, it can never replace the will and desire for one nation to achieve its goals and in time, that technology can fail.