B6170 - Cyberspace and International Politics

Learning outcomes

The course will enable students to understand the dynamics of cyberspace in the international arena, particularly addressing new forms of conflict, political dynamics among state and private actors, public policies, and regulatory standards. By the end of the course, students will be able to: a) Analyze the risks and threats arising from cyberspace. b) Evaluate the consequences of these risks on international relations and their potential impact within the context of international law. c) Understand the specificities of cyber threats. d) Analyze the developments in ICT and emerging disruptive technologies. KNOWLEDGE: The course focuses on cyberspace dynamics and their implications for private and public actors, sub-national, national, and international entities. It also highlights the influence of the cyber domain on the structure of the international system and new modes of international conflict and cooperation. To this end, at the beginning of the course, the instructor will introduce the theoretical framework that will allow students to conceptualize basic information on ICT policies, cybersecurity practices, and "cyberpolitics" in general. SKILLS ACQUIRED AT THE END OF THE COURSE: The main purpose of the course is to provide students with specific "knowledge tools" to independently analyze themes, scenarios, and research topics related to the implications of cyberspace in international politics. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE: Students will be required to read the assigned readings, conduct research, and present research results with appropriate technical, professional, and oral skills.

Course contents

Learning Outcomes

The course is designed to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge related to the dynamics of cyberspace and emerging technologies in international politics, including diplomatic initiatives and the new trends in global order. The workshop will also provide students with the skills needed to analyze primary sources, such as national policies and strategies, as well as the related institutional architectures that have been implemented. The main objective is to equip students with the analytical tools to assess, through empirical case studies, how cyberspace and emerging disruptive technologies influence international peace and stability.

 

Course Contents

The course is based on a seminar approach: students are required to read papers and chapters in advance to be prepared for the lecture, which will involve their active participation. “Cyber Security and International Politics” teaches how cyberspace, as a new technology, has impacted the international order. This framework is then applied to other technologies, exploring the intricacies of world politics in the 21st century, as well as the impact of new disruptive technologies and the emergence of “Big Tech” as a new non-state actor in the international arena.

• Lecture 1: introduction to the course: technology as a catalyst for change in international politics.
• Lecture 2: cyberspace as the fifth domain of warfare; case studies of cyber war and cyber attack in political and military affairs.
• Lecture 3: impact of emerging and disrupting technologies, including case studies in application: artificial intelligence, quantum computing; the threats of cognitive warfare.
• Lecture 4: Seminar on emerging technologies with Guest Lecturer(s).
• Lecture 5:  “Big Tech” as a new actor and the “Technopolar” world order: the case study of the intersection between Cyber and Space domains.
• Lecture 6: regulation and governance of technology, frameworks and standards at a national and international level.
• Lecture 7: international competition and the failures of cooperations in cyberspace and in the field of emerging technologies.

Readings/Bibliography

Please note that only selected chapters will be picked from the two books. Additional and recommended readings will be distributed during the course.

• Bjola, C., & Kornprobst, M. (2023). Digital International Relations: Technology, Agency and Order (1st edn). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003437963
• Kello, L. (2017). The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1trkjd1
• Luigi Martino (2024) Cybersecurity in Italy. Governance, Policies and Ecosystem. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-64396-5                                                                                                (2018). La quinta dimensione della conflittualità. L’ascesa del cyberspazio e i suoi effetti sulla politica internazionale. Politica & Società, 1, 61–76. https://doi.org/10.4476/89790

Teaching methods

The course is structured around interactions in the class, combining lecture-based and seminar-based approaches, where students are expected to read the assigned materials before the class and discuss them, as well as interact during the seminar portion of the lecture. Given that participation in the room is part of the final grade, attendance is mandatory.

The maximum number of accepted students will be 25, based on the booking order.

Assessment methods

• Attendance and interaction during the course;

• Multiple choice exam.

Office hours

See the website of Luigi Martino