Cyber as an instrument of foreign policy

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Date
2019-12-01
Authors
Eze, Friday
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Abstract
Over the years, the subject of cyber and everything around it has increasingly come to the forefront. Several experts have given their own views on how cyber is conceptualized but the debate still waxes on. This master’s thesis deals with the research question of how cyber is used in foreign policy relations. To answer this research question, a combination of qualitative research methods which includes case studies and use of existing literature are combined to identify and examine the salient roles that cyber plays in foreign policy relations. In this case, cyber should be viewed not just as a domain but as an instrument states employ in war, influence, internal interference, espionage and sabotage. For each of these instances, a unique case study is used to show the how cyber functions in foreign policy relations. The Georgia vs Russia is the first case study, which validates cyber’s use as a tool in war. Cyber’s use in influence is manifested in the Estonia vs Russia conflict case study, while the 2016 US election discusses the use of cyber in internal interference. Cyber in espionage and sabotage are discussed with the Iran and US vs China case studies respectively. Each of these case studies employs an analogical approach that identifies the salient aspects of each case, linking them to foreign policy actions to offer conclusions beyond reasonable doubt.
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Keywords
Cyber, policy, Ddos, Russia, internet
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