Capacity Building in Cyberspace as an Instrument of Foreign Policy
| Author | Patryk Pawlak |
| Date | 01 February 2016 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12298 |
| Published date | 01 February 2016 |
Capacity Building in Cyberspace as an
Instrument of Foreign Policy
Patryk Pawlak
EU Institute for Security Studies
Abstract
The positive impact of the Internet on human development depends on security and safety of the digital environment. With
the share of developing countries in the global Internet population increasing rapidly, addressing the threats posed by mali-
cious cyber activities is a clear priority. The purpose of this article is to explore the linkages between international debates on
cyber-related issues (i.e. Internet governance, cybercrime, cybersecurity, or international norms) and cyber capacity building.
Specifically, the article analyses capacity building projects by the Council of Europe and International Telecommunication
Union to answer if and how they can be used as a tool in foreign policy. This question stems from the assumption that capac-
ity building as a process focused on human resources development, organisational arrangements and legal and institutional
frameworks is ultimately aimed at deep societal and political transformation.
Policy Implications
•The donor community needs to define a strategic narrative around the issue of capacity building. While the promotion of
the multistakeholder approach and human rights online is consistently pushed on the agendas of major international
meetings, there is still little understanding about the nature of the ultimate goal. Such a narrative would also help diffuse
any misunderstandings about intentions and the nature of the relationship between donors and beneficiaries.
•To deal with the challenge of fragmentation at the global level, it is important to address the question of a future archi-
tecture for capacity building efforts. At the moment, we observe a multiplication of efforts which often duplicate both the
objectives and methods. Providing overarching umbrella architecture for such activities could help streamline those efforts
and improve efficiency in the use of limited resources.
•There is no single ‘good’model for securing cyberspace –therefore, the exchange of good practices between individual
countries and regional organisations may help streamline ongoing efforts. Given different levels of development across
the world, a collective effort in capacity building is of paramount importance in both preventing the emergence of safe
havens and ensuring that developing countries can fully harness the benefits of ICTs for development. When discussing
cyber capacity building methodologies one cannot ignore the lessons from other areas, including on local ownership and
the effectiveness of conditionality.
Development and politics in cyberspace
A secure and safe digital environment is a necessary condi-
tion for reaping the benefits of ubiquitous access to the
Internet and the positive impact it has on human develop-
ment. With the share of developing countries in the global
Internet population increasing rapidly and the number of
Internet users expected to reach 4.7 billion by 2025 (Burt
et al., 2014), addressing the threats posed by malicious
cyber activities is a clear priority. Several international play-
ers –including the EU, the US but also China and Brazil –
employ substantial resources to develop cyberspace poli-
cies and capabilities both at home and in third countries
that contribute to their national security objectives and
help to shape rules in this new field. For instance, the US
Cyberspace Policy Review of 2009 states that it needs ‘a
strategy for cybersecurity designed to shape the interna-
tional environment and bring like-minded nations together
on a host of issues, such as technical standards and
acceptable legal norms regarding territorial jurisdiction,
sovereign responsibility, and use of force’(White House,
2009, p. 20). The document then reaffirms that ‘[i]nterna-
tional norms are critical to establishing a secure and thriv-
ing digital infrastructure. In addition, differing national and
regional laws and practices (...) present serious challenges
to achieving a safe, secure, and resilient digital environ-
ment’(White House, 2009, p. 20). The EU, on the other
hand, acknowledges the importance of capacity building in
third countries as ‘a strategic building block’in the
‘promotion and protection of human rights, rule of law,
security, growth and development’(Council of the Euro-
pean Union, 2015, p. 9). In January 2015, members of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation presented an updated
version of their regional initiative –the International Code
of Conduct for Information Security –that stresses the
need for enhanced efforts to close the digital divide and
to enhance capacity-building efforts in developing coun-
tries (United Nations, 2015b, p. 6).
Global Policy (2016) 7:1 doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12298 ©2016 University of Durham and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global Policy Volume 7 . Issue 1 . February 2016 83
Special Section Article
To continue reading
Request your trial