Introduction : the drone debate

A brief overview of aerial drones and their military use by the United States

Case study : the U.S. drone campaign in Pakistan

The debate over strategy : are drones helping to defeat al-Qaeda and associated forces?

Case study : the drone war reaches Yemen

The debate over legality : are drone strikes permissible under U.S. and international law?

Case study : signature strikes

The ethical debate : are drone strikes consistent with the ideals of just war?

Case study : oversight and accountability

The politics of drone strikes : what political considerations shape the U.S. drone policy?

Case study : additional polls on attitudes to drones

Emerging issues : will armed drones proliferate rapidly, and what impact will they have on international security?

Conclusion : the age of drones?