A Critical Evaluation of the Estonian Cyber Incident

Donald L Buresh

doi:10.14302/issn.2692-5915.jafs-20-3601

Donald L Buresh

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2692-5915.jafs-20-3601

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Abstract

This paper evaluates the effect of the Estonian cyber incident on Estonia, Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also known as NATO. The paper employs the Valeriano and Maness criteria for evaluating a cyber incident critically. The article asks how did the Estonian cyber incident come to pass, what were the foreign policy and international relationship effects, what was the impact on Estonia, and how did Estonia react to the attack. The essay concludes that the Estonian cyber incident was a catalyst, prompting the nations listed herein to address the effects of cyber-attacks, and then search for acceptable solutions.

Highlights

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Estonian cyber incident of 2007 critically using the Valeriano and Maness criteria[1]
Because there were five parties involved in the incident – Estonia, Russia, the United States, the European Union, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – the answer to the second question is divided into three parts, (1) the relationship between Estonia and the United States, the European Union, and NATO, (2) the relationship between Estonia and Russia, and (3) the relationship between the United States and Russia
The paper concludes by pointing out that the Estonian attacked resulted in better political relations between Estonia and the West, the publication of the Tallinn Manual, while Russia became further isolated from the Western powers

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Estonian cyber incident of 2007 critically using the Valeriano and Maness criteria[1]. The paper concludes by pointing out that the Estonian attacked resulted in better political relations between Estonia and the West, the publication of the Tallinn Manual, while Russia became further isolated from the Western powers. The attack was triggered by the decision of the Estonian government to move a Soviet World War II memorial of a Bronze Soldier from central Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, to a military cemetery[4]. During holidays related to World War II, Russian Estonians commemorated their losses by placing flowers on the site[5]. These events increasingly provoked hostile actions against the Estonian government by the Russian government and Russian media, where the protests in the streets quickly morphed into riots[6]. By 2001, the Estonian government had become virtually paperless[9]

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