Interstate Cooperation in Cyber Strategies of the United States and China Post-2010: A Comparative Study

Abstract

INTERSTATE COOPERATION IN CYBER STRATEGIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA POST-2010: A COMPARATIVE STUDY July 2020 Glasgow Student Number: 2402268 Dublin City Student Number: 18114229 Charles Student Number: 67474092 ROMAN KOLODII Presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of International Master in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies Word Count: 21 990 words Supervisor: Dr Marcin Kaczmarski Date of Submission: July 30, 2020 2 ABSTRACT Academic, political and media discourses tend to focus on cyber warfare and cyberespionage as two key themes in cybersecurity. While recognizing their importance, this study explores the alternative, yet understudied topic of cyber-cooperation, drawing on the case of the two mightiest cyber powers-- the United States and China. More specifically, I ask: what is the role of interstate cooperation in cyber strategies of the US and China and how does it relate to their broader grand strategies in conventional domains of land, air and sea? Drawing on strategic theory, I compare American and Chinese approaches and argue that both countries use cyber-cooperation as a tool to enhance their cyber-capacity, conduct deterrence/reassurance in relations with foreign governments, and shape the rules of the game in cyberspace. However, the application of...