Great Power Cyber Competition: Competing and Winning in the Information Environment

This book explores the threats, challenges, opportunities, and boundaries of great power cyber competition in the 21st century. It emphasizes the competition in the cyber domain, including information and cyber operations, and the strategies used by adversarial powers such as China and Russia to elevate cyber and information competition to a central position. The book argues that Western democratic states lack the strategic and intellectual acumen to compete and win in the information and cyber domains and proposes a roadmap for the West to develop a strategy to compete with near-peer powers in information and cyber warfare.

Format: Hardback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the multifaceted realm of great power cyber competition in the 21st century, encompassing a wide range of threats, challenges, opportunities, and boundaries. It sheds light on a crucial dimension of contemporary great power competition that is often overlooked due to its intangible nature: the intense competition taking place in the cyber domain, encompassing information and cyber operations. Democracies worldwide are facing an ongoing battle against peer and near-peer competitors, with a prevailing belief that no state is immune from the informational contest. Adversarial powers, particularly China and Russia, have recognized the significant role that cyber and information competition plays in shaping the global landscape, and this volume articulates their strategies to elevate these domains to the forefront of their foreign policy agendas.

In the past, Western governments, including the U.S. government, have traditionally viewed the world in terms of a war-peace duality. However, this perspective is evolving, giving way to a more nuanced understanding of competition. This volume goes beyond merely analyzing the challenges prevalent in the information space and provides a comprehensive roadmap for Western powers to engage in and safeguard the global information environment from malicious actors. At its core, the book advocates for a proactive approach to countering aggression, recognizing the need for the West to assert its interests and protect its vital interests in the digital realm.

The book highlights the significant gaps in strategic and intellectual acumen that currently exist among Western democratic states when it comes to competing and winning in the information and cyber domains. It argues that the West requires a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges and compete effectively with near-peer powers in information and cyber warfare. By examining the strategies employed by China and Russia, as well as the evolving dynamics of the international system, this volume offers valuable insights into the future of great power competition in the cyber domain.

This book will appeal to a wide range of scholars and practitioners, including students of cyber-warfare, information warfare, defense studies, and international relations. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of great power cyber competition, offering valuable insights into the strategies and tactics employed by adversarial powers and the challenges faced by democratic states. As the world continues to rely more and more on digital technologies, understanding the implications of cyber competition is crucial for policymakers, military leaders, and civilians alike. This book serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of this critical dimension of contemporary great power competition.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032545264