Do Cyber Capabilities and Cyber Power Incentivize International Cooperation?

TL;DR

This study investigates whether cyber capabilities and power influence international cooperation among nations, finding that increased cyber power does not necessarily reduce incentives for cooperation, based on empirical analysis of 29 countries.

Contribution

It empirically tests three hypotheses about cyber power and cooperation, providing a nuanced understanding of cyber security dynamics in international relations.

Findings

All three hypotheses are rejected based on the data.

Cyber capabilities and power do not diminish incentives for cooperation.

Small states may still prefer cooperation despite cyber power levels.

Abstract

This paper explores a research question about whether defensive and offensive cyber security power and the capabilities to exercise the power influence the incentives of nation-states to participate in bilateral and multilateral cooperation (BMC) through formal and informal agreements, alliances, and norms. Drawing from international relations in general and structural realism in particular, three hypotheses are presented for assessing the research question empirically: (i) increasing cyber capability lessens the incentives for BMC; (ii) actively demonstrating and exerting cyber power decreases the willingness for BMC; and (iii) small states prefer BMC for cyber security and politics thereto. According to a cross-country dataset of 29 countries, all three hypotheses are rejected. Although presenting a "negative result" with respect to the research question, the accompanying discussion contributes to the state-centric cyber security research in international relations and political science.