Let’s start the article by sharing a story. There were Deer and Zebras in jungle. Both has a common enemy, Jaguar. To stay safe from Jaguar one day deer hired some Hyena. Zebras felt insecure and hired some bigger group of Hyena. Deer felt it’s a threat to them so they hired more Hyenas. Zebra seen that Hyena in Deer’s team is of large number which is a potential threat for them. So, he hired some more Hyenas. Now let’s think about the situation. Deer and Zebra both had common goals: “To be safe from Jaguar”. They hired Hyenas not to harm one another but to protect themselves. Despite of the common goal, due to lack of communication between them, their initiated a lack of trust and now they have to look out for 2 enemies instead of one. Hyena & Jaguar.
If we look into the cyberspace, it is obvious that most of the countries shared a same view and goal. To have a safer Cyberspace for citizens. But often due to lack of communication between them, they got an extra enemy except bad guys, themselves. Here is where Cyber Statecraft or Diplomacy comes into play.
Statecraft has been called “the ability to handle state affairs” or “the art of government and diplomacy” in various ways. Cyber statecraft is then the connection between cyber space and the art of government and diplomacy, particularly but not exclusively for national and international security issues. Cyber statecraft involves cyberspace rivalry, collaboration and competitiveness, and will be a way for developing and applying innovative ideas and methods to tackle a new generation of concerns. This theme looks at the emerging challenges and opportunities for national security and international relations in cyberspace. Cyber statecraft can be viewed as either “cyberspace applied to statecraft” or “statecraft applied to cyberspace.” The former discusses how cyberspace can be used to promote the organization or country. The latter, on the other hand, seeks to advance these interests in cyberspace. By contrast, in cyberspace, the latter seeks to advance those interests. The Institute of World Politics finds digital statecraft to consist of five different “cyber realms” to include, among others, the corporate and private sectors, the government and law enforcement. Where engineering, legislation, and policy connect impact cyber security, and the essence of cyber statecraft is the control of this nexus.
The first question which comes into mind is how to initiate this co-operation process. The format of cooperation can be Dialogs, Taskforce, Consultations, Negotiation, Working Groups & Capacity buildings. The primary goals for Cyber Diplomacy are:
- Preventing conflicts: Strengthening cyber security and resilience, increase awareness of businesses and citizens, build capacities of its international partners and promote increased transparency on cybersecurity issues
- Building stability in cyberspace: promotion of the rules-based international order, effective multilateralism and effective global governance
- Promoting cooperation: based on dialog, confidence building measures
Due to the sheer linked and complicated nature of cyberspace, states, the commercial sector, civil society, the professional communities, individuals, and academics must work together to address the difficulties and each stakeholder must understand their own significant functions in order to maintain an open, free, secure, and stable cyberspace.
To enable joint efforts, many governments are now creating positions as Cyber Diplomats or Cyber Attaché or Cyber coordinators. Job of these persons is to maintain a cyber-relation with foreign nations. For example, we can consider a big country like the UK, who deployed cyber attaché around the world including African countries. Most of the cyber-aware nations are considering this as a best option and that will be clearer when we know that small countries like Czech Republic have deployed cyber diplomats in Brussels, US and other countries and are in process to deploy such persons to Asia as well very soon. These positions are often held by people with a technical background with knowledge in cyber diplomacy. Depending on goals of the country, their job responsibilities are aligned.
For further information on how countries are doing it, we can refer to Framework for a joint EU diplomatic response to malicious cyber activities 2017, European coordinated response to large scale cybersecurity incidents and crisis 2017, 2013 EU Cyber Security Strategy: An open, safe and secure Cyberspace, 2017 Cyber Security Package: Resilience, Deterrence and Defense: Building strong cybersecurity for the EU, 2015 Council Conclusions on Cyber Diplomacy, 2017 Council Conclusions on a Framework for a Joint EU Diplomatic Response to Malicious Cyber Activities (“Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox”) and Budapest Convention.
In this global village if we want to be cyber resilient and secure, the only option is to coordinate and cooperate. As soon as all Governments understand this point, we can start our journey towards a secured world. Initial step of this journey must be to consider Cyber statecraft as a powerful tool and utilizing it.