Deciphering Cyberpower: Strategic Purpose in Peace and War
Abstract
What is the strategic purpose of cyberpower? All too many works on cyberspace and cyberpower are focused on the technical, tactical, and operational aspects of operating in the cyber domain. These are undoubtedly important topics, but very few address the strategic purpose of cyberpower for the ends of policy. Understanding its strategic purpose is important if policy makers, senior commanders, and strategists are to make informed judgments about its use. Cyberpower does indeed have strategic purpose relevant to achieving policy objectives. This strategic purpose revolves around the ability in peace and war to manipulate perceptions of the strategic environment to one?s advantage while at the same time degrading the ability of an adversary to comprehend that same environment. While it is proper to pay attention to the technological, tactical, and operational implications, challenges, and opportunities of cyberspace, this article concerns itself with its use??the ability to use cyberspace to create advantages and influence events in all the operational environments and across the instruments of power??for achieving the policy objectives of the nation.1 Transforming the effects of cyberpower into policy objectives is the art and science of strategy, defined as ?managing context for continuing advantage according to policy? (emphasis in original).2 The definition provides the overall strategic impetus for the use of cyberpower. To fully understand the power of cyber, one must acknowledge the character of cyberpower and cyberspace. The linkage between strategic context, strategy, andcyberpower is also essential. Ultimately, cyberpower stems from the ability to manipulate the strategic environment, and this requires a theory of cyberpower.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA544498
Entities
People
- John B. Sheldon
Organizations
- Air University