Cyber security and the Challenges of Global Security After 2020

Abstract

The growing escalation of cyber threats after 2020 indicates a profound transformation in the structure of international security. Cyberspace has increasingly become a domain of conflict that extends beyond the capabilities of conventional military forces and is reshaping fundamental concepts such as sovereignty and deterrence. With the expanding reliance on digital infrastructures, cyber-attacks have become more interconnected and capable of exerting significant influence on critical state institutions, supply chains, and information systems. Moreover, the diversity of actors operating in cyberspace ranging from state to non-state entities—along with the decline in effective international cooperation, has further complicated the attribution of cyber-attacks and the development of effective response frameworks. This transformation reflects a shift in power toward actors capable of managing cyber risks, establishing effective governance mechanisms, and enhancing cyber resilience. Consequently, cyber security has emerged as a central pillar in the reconfiguration of power balances and strategic interactions within the contemporary international system.