Abstract

The Russian strategy on the cyber security today is characterized by its counterbalance against the US-centered Western order. However, there also has been limited version of cooperations as well. Russiaʹs fundamental goal in the process of these confrontations and cooperations is ʹto establish a global cyber security governanceʹ that reflects Russiaʹs national interests. Therefore, whether the cyber space would become a competitive arena of zero-sum games or a cooperative space with a win‐win situation, would be an important issue of the unconventional security studies in the future.BR There are three main characteristics of Russiaʹs strategy on the cyber security. First, it reflects Russiaʹs original perception on the ʹcyber space,ʹ which is different from that of the West. Unlike the Western world which emphasizes the free flow of information, Russia places a considerable emphasis on regulating the cyber space as a national territory under the sovereign jurisdiction. Second, Russia regards the competence in the cyber space as a means to enhance its national interests in the digital age. This view also illustrates the Russiaʹs perception that its cyber space is constantly exposed to the external attacks, which will inflict an enormous impact on the country. To support this approach, the Russian government has been actively establishing relevant legislative procedures. Third, the governmental department in charge of the cyber security in Russia is being switched from the intelligence organizations to the military. This shows Russiaʹs intention to step up its strategy from passively analyzing the given threats to aggressively expanding its cyber capabilities. It also implies that both the conventional warfare and cyber war can occur simultaneously.BR The Russian strategy has a number of points that can induce conflicts with the West. For this reason, although Russia has successfully strengthened its cooperation with China, it failed to improve its relations with the US, fixating the image as a leading country of the anti‐Western camp. Once there had been limited cooperation between Russia and the US on the realm of security, establishing ‘hot line’ for cyber security. But the cooperative phase was soon turned into the continued confrontational phase as the Crimean and Ukrainian issues have exacerbated the bilateral relations. It is highly likely that Russia will promote the global internet governance which emphasizes ʹthe elements of sovereignty,ʹ in opposition against the Western perception which highlights the free flow of information. In other words, Russia is expected to pursue a strategy to mitigate the elements of threats in the cyber space between the countries, while forming a multilateral stage where the sovereignty of each country is respected in order to utilize it as a means to raise its voice on the matter.

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