States’ Capacity Building for Cybersecurity: An IR Approach

Abstract

This paper discusses the current circumstances of security in cyberspace, such as cyber armies and cyber intelligence. Cyber intelligence plays a vital role in the balance of power. Most importantly, this paper explores previous studies of the International Relations (IR) theory of Realism. Cybersecurity can be applied as the equivalent of a nuclear deterrent of Realism and is inspired by the sense of the threat that allied countries felt in regard to cybersecurity. Countries utilize capacity building for military affairs, economics, and administration for cyber deterrence. Even though the circumstances of cybersecurity are deeply affected by the deterrence theory of Realism, concepts of capacity building for cybersecurity are derived not only from Realism but also from Liberalism and Constructivism. In the end, through this paper, I found that there is an interdependence of Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism.

Neorealist Analysis of Security Dilemma in Cyberspace; A Quantitative Study

“…Another issue is that by putting much lesser effort and capital compared to conventional offensive initiatives, cyber attacks may provide assailant parties with much higher returns (Smeets, 2018;Valeriano et al, 2018;Watanabe, 2020). What is more, traditionally weaker states can vault power to challenge stronger states in cyberspace thanks to the low costs of organizing offensive actions (Pytlak & Mitchell, 2018).…”

“…Among these, the work of Tumkevič (2019) is particularly relevant, drawing attention to the emergence of a 'negative cooperation' between US-China and US-Russia in cyberspace by subscribing to the perspective of defensive realism. Watanabe (2020), on the other hand, particularly addresses 'capacity building' in cyberspace and provides a more comprehensive framework by applying three theoretical approaches (Liberalism, Realism, and Constructivism), thus, explaining military capacity building in cyberspace with realism, economic capacity building with liberalism, and normative capacity building with constructivism. Again, even though his work provides the literature with a qualified point of view from the lenses of the grand theories of IR, the robustness of these findings may be questioned if not supported by empirical data.…”

Neorealist Analysis of Security Dilemma in Cyberspace; A Quantitative Study

“…What are the implications of this argument? By putting much lesser effort and capital compared to conventional offensive initiatives, cyber attacks may provide assailant parties with much higher returns (Valeriano et al, 2018;Watanabe, 2020). What is more, traditionally weaker states can vault power to challenge stronger states in cyberspace thanks to the low costs of organizing offensive actions (Pytlak & Mitchell, 2018).…”

Neorealist Analysis of Security Dilemma in Cyberspace; A Quantitative Study

“…What are the implications of this argument? By putting much lesser effort and capital compared to conventional offensive initiatives, cyber attacks may provide assailant parties with much higher returns (Valeriano et al, 2018;Watanabe, 2020). What is more, traditionally weaker states can vault power to challenge stronger states in cyberspace thanks to the low costs of organizing offensive actions (Pytlak and Mitchell, 2018).…”

“…In her work, she specifically draws attention on the emergence of a "negative cooperation" between US-China and US-Russia in cyberspace by subscribing to the perspective of defensive realism. Watanabe (2020), on the other hand, particularly deals with "capacity building" in cyberspace and provides a more general framework by applying three major IR theories (Liberalism, Realism, and Constructivism), thus, explaining military capacity building in cyberspace with realism, economic capacity building with liberalism, and normative capacity building with constructivism.…”