The space for policy and cyber interaction or, more accurately, the “cyber policy” space, is considered to be the most recent and most important area of interest among policy and international experts in the theoretical and practical field, which neglects it can cause serious damage and unpredictable for countries as the most important actors in the field of international relations.
Today,
cyber policy and cyber security are discussed in the field of international
relations and politics. Real space cyberspace is a real new field for
influencing and, consequently, friendship, cooperation, competition, hostility
and even war between nations and other actors. These cases show well that the
Internet and cyberspace have provided a new field for politics, a space in
which individuals, groups and governments are acting and policy makers.
Cyber
policy is a bipartisan concept that refers to the interaction and coherence of
the two arenas of politics (the place of friendship, cooperation, competition,
conflict, and war on values and interests) and the Internet (a new platform for acting). Some
experts have gone even further and talked about cyber policy “great politics”
versus “undercover politics”.
In the
field of international relations, under the influence of the tradition of
realism, international issues are divided into very important and crucial
issues such as security and less important issues, such as economic issues.
Some experts believe that because of the importance of cyberspace, cyber policy
has to be considered as one of the most important, critical and security issues
or great politics. They point out that today, millions of people worldwide have
access to computers and the Internet, and each day they increase the number of
users and the level and depth of Internet use, which provides a very important
area for acting and, consequently, policy is making every day, the number of users
as well as the level of technology is added. Under these circumstances,
cyberspace plays an important role in guiding public opinion, creating
priorities and desires, public diplomacy, spying, vandalism, war, conflict, and
everything that actually forms the realm of real politics. As a result,
cyberspace should be considered an excellent policy.
The
theoretical framework and the most influential impact of cyberspace on politics
and international relations are three main issues. The first issue is the presentation
of a “conceptual order” to explain the relationship between cyberspace and
politics. The second issue is identifying and believing in the widespread
connection between cyberspace and politics. The third issue is the explanation
of the route and the important issues in this connection.
The
theory of “surplus pressure” is the applicable theory in this field. The theory
of lateral pressure means a new level of analysis beyond Stefan Walt’s three
levels. He believes that cyberspace cannot be discussed based on previous
levels and attitudes of people like Kenneth Boulding and Kenneth Waltz.
In
addition to the three levels of “human”, “states” and “international system,”
space requires a different level. At this new level, which is the “global
level”, the impact of cyberspace is emphasized by the emphasis on the
separation between the “social system” and the “natural environment.” At the
global level, it is emphasized that the Internet space and its widespread
impact on the world of politics cannot be discussed with the old levels that
emphasize the individual or state or international arena. Internet space is a
space for acting actors, non-state actors such as terrorists and private
companies in terms of economic, cultural, security and even military.
Therefore, it should be emphasized on the global level that, while combining
the other levels, creates a broad interconnection between all levels and
dimensions and is capable of analyzing other political space. Therefore, in
lateral suppression theory, there is an attempt to establish a relationship
between the individual, state and international levels as the old levels and
the level of global analysis.
Based on
the experience of the past decades, the Internet and cyberspace have affected
the relations between countries, especially the United States and Iran. Indeed,
a serious competition between countries in this area has a positive and
negative or positive effect. In this conflict, major nations, including China
and the United States, are trying to outsource the other in the field of
technology, which has positive implications for the advancement of the
Internet, but the Internet, meanwhile, has created a new atmosphere of
competition, hostility and warfare, sometimes with some countries, including America
and Iran have been attracted.
Regarding
the content of the Internet and the role and policies of governments to control
cyberspace, powerful nations are trying to influence the direction and overall
space of the Internet and determine its future path. In contrast to the weaker
countries in this area, they are struggling with a sophisticated look and feel,
with influences such as content filtering, affecting the Internet. In such a
space, the serious competition that has emerged between the West and the rest
of the world has a different shape every day.
In the
“cyber policy” space as a major new issue in the field of politics and
international relations, as in other areas of politics, “values” and
“interests” by various factors such as governments, organizations and
government actors And non-governmental organizations, and even people who
produce, distribute and consume. In fact, cyber policy, unlike the past, has
placed new actors alongside governments as the most important actors in
international relations, which are sometimes more capable and successful in the
Internet.
However,
apart from all the benefits and benefits of the Internet, the fact is that the
Internet has provided “a new war space”, which is referred to as “cyber
warfare”. In this type of war, countries and other actors use the Internet to
spy, sabotage, and create insurrections, revolutions and even the destruction
of military installations and vital centers of the other side.
Of
course, the Internet has created a new space for “cooperation” and
“interaction” between countries. In spite of this, the Internet has made the
relationship between all actors, including governments, individuals,
organizations and institutions, cheap and comfortable, due to its high speed
and precision. As a result, the conditions for cooperation and engagement have
been more interesting than before. While countries and other actors are aware
of the need for extensive international cooperation on the Internet, they know
that cyberspace has created a new area of international cooperation.
Regarding
the widespread impact of the Internet on all aspects of politics and
international relations through the spread of knowledge and knowledge of
individuals, the fact is that the Internet has been instrumental in facilitating
and expanding access to information and knowledge in the national and
international arena. Individuals and communities have become more aware and
more educated than before, and the world faces a new phenomenon called “Human
Awakening,” which is known in Muslim countries as “Islamic Awakening.” As a
result, political demands such as the consideration of democracy and the
necessity of respect for the political independence of nations, reverence for
cultural and religious values, the right to decent social economic development,
etc., and increased sensitivity to issues such as the environment. Accordingly,
the Internet has affected the field of action of countries and other actors.
Finally,
a new atmosphere in the international arena that cannot be analyzed based on
theories, approaches, and levels of the past is being analyzed. In fact, the
content and philosophy of the new space, known as cyberspace, is very different
from the past. In this new space, new types of friendship, cooperation,
rivalry, hostility and war have been created alongside past patterns.
Meanwhile, various and varied actors have been added to traditional actors that
are very vague and unpredictable. Consequently, these conditions must emphasize
new ideas, approaches and perspectives that are much more flexible and open to
the past.
Cyber
policy and cyber security in the current context are considered by the
international relations experts as the main issue, along with older issues of
war, economics, women and the environment, and even consider some of its
importance more than other areas; Because the cyberspace has all the domains
and the old ones.
For
example, cyberspace has provided new conditions for cooperation and competition
between countries and, of course, other actors in the military, security,
political, economic, environmental, women’s, children’s, health, education and
other fields. Therefore, the cyber space has created new conditions in which
issues of international relations are presented in a different way, resulting
in a new form of cyber policy, with particular implications for national and
international security. Based on this, a comprehensive review of cyber policy
and cyber security, and its impact on all domains, will reinforce the
deployment of passive defense at the national level.
***Sajad
Abedi:National Security and Defense Think Tank