My research has often suggested the need for skepticism regarding the
purported benefits of this class of weaponry. While not wishing to completely
dismiss the potential of alternative force options to help realize more
preferable outcomes, the deployment of non-lethal weapons raises various
grounds for concern.
Their applications and contexts of use are multiple and not always foreseeable, and the manner of their use does not always result in minimal injury. Moreover, though many states and corporations boast about the robustness of their safety testing procedures and the strict rules in place governing the use of force, past experience across many countries indicates such statements should be approached with some caution.
There is a key question at stake in such developments: what does it means to claim that the problems associated with the acceptability of the use of force can be ‘solved’ through this application of technology? This question has been at the center of much of my research.
On-line Publications
(For a complete listing of my publications click here)
Rappert, B. 2004. ‘Shock
Tactics ’ Police Professional 19 November: 15.
Rappert,
B. 2004. Submission to the Northern Ireland Office and Home Office January
2004 Patten Recommendations 69 and 70 Relating to Public Order Equipment
Report. pp. 1-5.
Rappert, B. 2004. ‘Sceptical Appraisals: A Proposed Framework for
the Assessment of Non-Lethal Weapons’ Medicine, Conflict &
Survival 20: 35-54.
Rappert, B. 2003. Non-Lethal Weapons as Legitimizing
Forces?: Technology, Politics and the Management of Conflict London:
Frank Cass, pp. 1-286. Introduction
Rappert, B. 2003. “Health and Safety in Policing” Social
Science & Medicine 56(6) March: 1269-1278
Rappert, B. 2003. ‘Less-lethal Options’ Police Review
17 January: 22-23.
Rappert, B. 2003. ‘Shock Tactics’ New
Scientist 15 February: 34-37.
Rappert, B. 2003. Submission to the Northern Ireland Office and Home Office December 2002 Patten Recommendations 69 and 70 Relating to Public Order Equipment Report. pp. 1-5. (See UK Review of Public Order Equipment)
Rappert, B. 2002. ‘The Future of Force’ Science and Public Affairs October 6-7.
Rappert, B. 2002. Submission to the Northern Ireland Office and Home Office December 2001 Patten Recommendations 69 and 70 Relating to Public Order Equipment Report. pp. 1-55. (See UK Review of Public Order Equipment)