Bridging the gap between cyberwar and cyberpeace

Burton, Joe and Christou, George (2021) Bridging the gap between cyberwar and cyberpeace. International Affairs, 97 (6). pp. 1727-1747. ISSN 0020-5850

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Abstract

The conceptual debate around the term cyber warfare has dominated the cybersecurity discipline over the last two decades. Much less attention has been given during this period to an equally important question: what constitutes cyber peace? This article draws on the literatures in peace and conflict studies and on desecuritization in critical security studies, to suggest how we might begin to rearticulate the cybersecurity narrative and shift the debate away from securitization and cyberwar to a more academically grounded focus on desecuritization and cyber peace. It is argued that such a move away from a vicious circle where states frame cybersecurity predominantly within a national security narrative and where they seek to perpetually prepare for cyberwar, to a virtual cycle of positive cyber peace, is not only a desirable, but a necessary outcome going forward. We assert that this is particularly important if we are to avoid (continuing) to construct the very vulnerabilities and insecurities that lead to the prioritization of offence and destruction in cyberspace, rather than transformative, human-centred development in information and communications technology innovation.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
International Affairs
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Research Output Funding/yes_externally_funded
Subjects:
?? yes - externally fundednopolitical science and international relationssociology and political science ??
ID Code:
200532
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
30 Aug 2023 08:50
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
16 Jul 2024 00:02