CYBERCONFLICTS: AN EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION ON CONFLICT ECOSYSTEM

Abstract

In this study we aim to understand how does globalization changed / expanded the international conflict ecosystem by introducing a newcomer: Cyber-conflicts. For the purpose of such an understanding first of all in the introduction part we revisit and integrate a number of theories and concepts such as conflict, cyberspace, imperialism, globalization theories and transnationality concept in order to have a theoretical framework about cyber-conflicts. Then we focus on the differences and relations between the conventional / kinetic conflicts and cyberconflicts. Although this study is based on qualitative analysis of what is called cyber-conflicts, we also include some quantitative data in order to clarify the current changes in international conflict ecosystem. In the conclusion part we reach a new conceptualization about cyberconflicts as globalization of war and criticise the lack of peace mechanisms.