ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the central role played by dual-use technologies in security and defence research policies of the European Union. It puts forward the argument that the EU’s strong incentives to these technologies – on the grounds of its potential for generating economic, industrial and innovation synergies between the civilian and the military domains – are a political choice that have relevant consequences in the security politics of the Union. The chapter provides an overview of the main academic debates surrounding the concept of dual-use technologies in different academic fields and it contributes to these discussions through a Science and Technology Studies-inspired analysis of the EU reality. Our contribution argues for the necessity of further dialogue between intellectual traditions emanating from STS and critical approaches to security and military studies.
