The Equalizer: How Cyberpower has Helped Weak Actors Change their International Standing

Development of cyber security is a new imperative for states and a popular topic for security studies and international relations, for good reason. States that neglect addressing this new arena will suffer at the hand of other actors who choose to capitalize on their cyber prowess. The effectiveness of a state’s cyber security is directly affected by their cyberpower capacity – logically states ought to develop their cyberpower capacity. Cyber presents a considerable strategic opportunity for weaker states, either traditionally or asymmetrically weak, to positively affect their power relationship vis-à-vis a stronger adversary. I will explore how these traditionally ‘weak’ actors can develop all forms of cyberpower, resource-based and ideational, to increase their level of parity with more traditionally ‘strong’ states thereby altering how states engage with one another.

About the speaker:

Ginger Guzman is conducting research at The Institute of World Politics from Tallinn University in Estonia. Her current research focuses on the development of ideational cyberpower of small and asymmetrically weak states. She previously worked as the Director of Outreach and Communication for the Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program and as a research associate for the Center on Contemporary Conflict at the Naval Postgraduate School.

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