CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Pereira, Amanda |
|---|---|
| Title | Tech Giants and The Ukraine War: Rethinking Power, Sovereignty, and Modern Conflict |
| Summary | This thesis investigates a vitally important question: how are private technology companies reshaping war? It uses a qualitative case study methodology to examine the operational roles of three major technology firms—SpaceX, Microsoft, and Google—during the Ukraine war in particular. The study analyses their influence on military strategy, cyber defence, and information governance, drawing on primary and secondary sources including corporate actions, public statements, and conflict events. Key findings reveal that these companies are redefining their roles in the international system and performing sovereign-like functions by controlling critical digital infrastructure, shaping narratives, and influencing battlefield outcomes without formal state authority or democratic oversight. This dynamic challenges traditional International Relations theories centred on state sovereignty, suggesting a process where sovereignty becomes fragmented across digital platforms. The research also further highlights how Big Tech’s growing geopolitical power blurs the lines between public and private domains. Ultimately, the thesis contributes to rethinking sovereignty and power in the digital age, emphasising the need to adapt IR traditional theories to account for non-state actors as central players in global politics. |
| Supervisor | Large, Daniel |
| Department | Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/pereira_amanda.pdf |
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