CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Popper, David Mark |
|---|---|
| Title | Cyber Warfare & Influence Operations as Threats to Democratic Freedom |
| Summary | This thesis critically examines the evolving role of cyber warfare (CW) and information operations (IOs) in shaping national security, political stability, and public trust. As cyberspace becomes a key battleground for both state and non-state actors, conventional models of warfare and deterrence prove increasingly inadequate. The research highlights how cyber capabilities are integrated into broader geopolitical strategies, often preceding or replacing traditional military action. It investigates the legal and ethical ambiguities surrounding state-sponsored cyberattacks and digital surveillance, especially the complicity of private companies in enabling authoritarian regimes through the unregulated trade of cyberweapons. The thesis argues that existing international legal frameworks fail to address the borderless, asymmetric nature of cyber threats, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity. By comparing case studies, including attacks on critical infrastructure and democratic processes, the work underscores the urgent need for globally coordinated norms and robust regulatory mechanisms. Special attention is paid to the role of democracies in setting ethical standards, regulating private sector involvement, and communicating the tangible impacts of cyber threats to the public. Ultimately, the thesis calls for a multidimensional response: integrating cyber capabilities into national defense, demystifying public understanding of cyberattacks, and developing enforceable international agreements. Drawing from literature in international law, security studies, and digital governance, the study concludes that only through cooperation, transparency, and political will can democratic societies reassert control over cyberspace and preserve the liberal order in the digital age. |
| Supervisor | Alexios Antypas |
| Department | Undergraduate Studies BA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/popper_david02.pdf |
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