State, Security, and Cyberwar: The Quest for Digital Peace

This book examines the complex interactions amongst states and security apparatuses in the contemporary global order, and the prospect of peace with the emergence of cyberwarfare. Analysing why states consider cyberspace as a matter of security and strategic concerns, it looks forward to a possible foundation of ‘cyberpeace’ in the international system. It examines the idea of cyber-territory, population, governance, and sovereignty, along with that of nation states referring to great, middle, and small powers.

The book explores the strategic and security aspects of cyberspace along with the rational behaviours of states in the domain. It explains the militarisation and weaponisation of cyber technologies for strategic purpose and traces the progression of cyber war and its impact on global stability. The last section of the book examines the possibility of building peace in che cyber domain with the endeavours of the international community to safeguard cyber sovereignty and promote stability in the digital sphere.

It also discusses India’s position on digital security, cyberwarfare, and the pursuit of cyberpeace. The book offers valuable insights for students, researchers, practitioners, stakeholders working in and on military and strategic affairs, peace and conflict studies, and global politics, as well as interested general readers.

Thangjam K. Singh, with over two decades of experience in defence and strategic affairs, is Associate Professor at the Department of Strategic Technologies, School of national Security Studies, Central University of Gujarat. He previously taught at the Central University of Jammu, and served as an Officer on Special Duty at National Technical Research Organisation. He was a researcher at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), contributing to the Centre for Net Assessment and the Centre for Terrorism and Internal Security. His expertise includes cyberwarfare, national security, strategic thoughts, terrorism and military affairs.

Sanjay K. Jha is Professor and Dean at the School of National Security Studies, Central University of Gujarat. With over 20 years of experience in security and strategic affairs, he has served in research institutions like the Institute for Conflict Management, MP-IDSA, and the Government of India. His research focuses on international relations, national security, South Asian politics, internal security, terrot rism, insurgency, and border management.