Constructivism in International Relations and Cyberspace
Constructivism is a theory of international relations that focuses on the role of ideas, beliefs and social interaction in shaping the behavior of states and institutions. While realism emphasizes power or liberalism emphasizes cooperation and institutions, constructivism notes that global politics is socially constructed and is dependent on how the state defines a threat or opportunity. Cyberspace is a suitable area for the deployment of constructivism, as it argues that cyberspace is a social construct, constructed around interactions and rules. This field is not only material based, but also relies on norms, discourses and collective representations. States having different ideologies and experiences have diverse interests in cyberspace.
Digital Norms; How These are Constructed
Digital norms are the unwritten rules of how to behave in cyberspace. They are analogous to international standards in physical places like diplomacy or war, but translated into the digital realm. They are shared beliefs held within community. For example, states are expected not to attack critical infrastructure in peacetime; or companies are expected to keep user data safe. Digital norms are established over time when a community or states agree on particular belief. The shared beliefs don’t become a norm until it is agreed upon by community. The U.S. government preaching that commercial cyber espionage is bad did not make cyber espionage a norm. It wasn’t until China, the UK and other G20 countries signed on, that the norm began to take shape.
Social Construct of Cyber Norms
Ideologies, alliances and technical security are not the only factors shaping cyber norms and values. It’s the value that reflects how we as a society think about what’s right or wrong in digital environments. Take the example of election cyberattacks. This is seen as a serious violation of sovereignty and democracy in many Western countries and a legitimate interference by other states. Similarly, online censorship is viewed by some states as a necessary means to stability i.e. China. While other states view it as a violation of free speech. It shows that how different states or nations have constructed different perspectives in cyberspace.
Online Safety Standards; Contrasting Ideologies on Cyber Norms
Digital Norms play an important role in defining online safety standards. Contrasting ideologies exist to maintain standards in cyberspace. EU focuses on data protection and privacy as central values. EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set data privacy as moral and legal norm. The United States adopt a liberal and voluntary norms for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. China focuses on state controlled cyberspace by censorship system Great Firewall. The major purpose of all these safety standards are to maintain digital sovereignty and protect state interest in cyberspace. The development of contrasting perspectives by states are based on their constructive experiences.
Source: https://ehtrust.org/electrosensitivity-uk-considers-advertising-standards-authority-ruling-on-cell-phone-radiation-information-poster-invalid/
Social Media has become a powerful tool in defining public opinion on policies and events with 5.62 billion users. It plays a key role in predicting political trends and conversion of societal behavior regarding various social, religious and economic issues. Social media has transformed the discourse of individuals and behavior of society, particularly the youth. It has become an important factor in the definition and redefinition of digital norms. When millions of people are following the same movement on social media, it turns into their collective voice or global trend. This norm diffusion across borders affects behaviour. Social media is emerging as a new normality in the construction of cyber norms in the digital world.
Internet Governance and Global Digital Ethics
Internet governance is one of the most complex problems of the digital age. It is the set of rules, policies, and practices that govern the way in which the internet is managed. It involves states, corporations, international organizations and civil society organizations. There are diverging attitudes over the focus of internet governance i.e. freedom of speech, censorship, etc. The United States is more focused on the values of an open internet. China emphasizes cyber sovereignty that puts states in a stronger position of control. EU is trying to find right balance between regulation, safety and rights. Constructivism helps us to realize that these approaches are not technical; they reflect deeper values and beliefs.
Digital Behavior Regulation; Community Standards
The most alarming issue emerging in the digital world is safety and privacy violations. Online safety provides precautions to keep yourself protected over the Internet. It is concerned with making wise choices, using secure connections, keeping passwords safe and awareness of consequences of your digital footprint. But, it is not a universal term and means different for everyone. Online safety for government is to protect from cyber attacks and terrorism. For activists it implies absence of surveillance and censorship. There is implementation of ideas by means of digital behavior regulation. It may be either in form of laws, corporate policy or informal practice. Constructivism explains that distribution of online safety is never on objective basis, but is always negotiable. The establishment of online safety standards is based on opinions of the people and views of the experts prioritizing the safety of people and their rights.
Conclusion
In digital world, constructivism provides the knowledge of digital norms, online safety measures and cybersecurity. The concept of constructivism and digital norms are essential for responsible use of internet. Constructivism explains that learning is not fixed rather it is subjective depending on interaction and experiences. We are not mere users of internet, we are the producers of its culture. The more we understand the importance of digital norms; the sooner we can create ways of making the digital world smart, safe, and inclusive. The future of cybersecurity depends not only on technological measures but also on collective understanding of digital space.
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