Diplomats in cyberspace : a study on the role of, and challenges faced by the foreign policy community in the fifth operational domain

Abstract

This study argues that international policies and strategies related to cyberspace cannot be limited to technological aspects, since this would impede the development of a deeper understanding of what happens between States when they enter cyberspace. Cyberspace and the technology behind it have injected a significant element of uncertainty around States’ behaviour and intentions due to several areas of ambiguity, including the virtuality and pervasiveness of the environment, its culture of anonymity, and the power shifts resulting from the reduction of imbalances of resources and capabilities between State and non-State actors. These characteristics introduce a number of challenges for diplomacy which intersect international law, politics, human rights, cybersecurity, technological advancement and corporate interests. This study maps out the main aspects of cyber diplomacy, a term which has emerged as a reaction to the growing importance of cyberspace for international relations. While the wider study does not attempt to come up with an indisputable definition of cyber diplomacy, it outlines how States collaborate to establish norms of responsible behaviour and agree on confidence-building measures, all while bearing in mind the maintenance of their own interests. It does so with the aim of providing a clearer picture of how diplomats are faring in this new environment, and what is expected of them.