Abstrakt
Liberalism as an ideology or a guiding ethos of Western societies tends to see technological and scientific improvements in unequivocally positive terms. In fact, the notion of progress, advancement and amelioration are among the most fundamental attributes of liberalism and military affairs are not excluded from the liberal belief in improvement through science and technology.
A straightforward manifestation of this ideological stance can be seen in the military strategies of the United Kingdom in the 20th Century. This paper is going to examine the ideological background of Britain's propensity to utilise a revolutionary military technology.
Focusing primarily on the interwar defence policy and its emphasis on air power, this paper is set to argue that the Britain's tendency to technological solutions was intimately related to liberal antimilitarism. The modern technology was viewed as a prevention of militarism, as it marginalised traditional military solutions and thus also the role and power of traditional military organisations.
Owing to the liberal antimilitarism, the technological advancement in defence and war were not confined only to the introduction of new technologies into the armed forces, but was also intrinsically related to a specific strategic logic. In the liberal eyes, the peacetime focus on scientific and technological progress in military affairs was justifiable only as long as it could prevent war or, if a war broke out, it would bring the war to a quick and, in terms of lives, inexpensive conclusion.
However, these expectations might prove inconsistent with the liberal ethical principles of discrimination in warfare, as e.g. the case of strategic bombing campaign against Germany did demonstrate.