Emerging and disruptive technologies are transforming the dynamics of international politics. These technologies have the capability to transform the already existing system for example artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the internet of things. The world is witnessing a revolution from real battlegrounds where the military was used to the virtual battlefields of cyber warfare and manipulation of millions minds on social media through narrative building. As Hillary Clinton once said: “just as the internet has changed virtually every aspect of how people worldwide live, learn, consume and communicate, connection technologies are changing the strategic context for diplomacy in the 21st century”. Optimists say that these technologies will provide new opportunities others argue it will intensify conflicts.
It is possible due to advanced technologies that diplomats across the borders can communicate with each other through online meetings, messaging and sending email to each other. It enables policymakers and government officials to stay informed about current affairs and design policies accordingly. Today we are sitting in Pakistan and watching what is happening in Gaza and raising our voice against oppressors, this became possible because of advancement in technology. Technology plays a great role in crises management. Satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), and data analytics are the tools that facilitate early warning systems and guide how to respond in the time of any crisis. Block chain can reduce corruption can enhance transparency in international transactions. Today citizens are more aware of their rights and what is happening around them and raise their stance if they see any violation. They question their government, do protests and boycott products which have a great impact on international politics.
Where these technologies have many advantages, they also pose threats that require attention and proper actions. One of the major challenges includes a shift from traditional wars to cyber warfare. It is a digital war without using military or any conventional weapon you can destroy your enemy and the most interesting part is no one can identify who attacked. Countries wasted a lot of money in making missiles and weapons to destroy their adversary residing far away but now it is one click away to disrupt their system and destroy them in minutes. For instance, Estonia’s cyber-attack in 2007. Furthermore, IoT and blockchain raises concerns over privacy. Due to growing mistrust about data security many European countries and some of the others like Canada, Australia, England, and the U.S. banned Chinese 5G providers such as Huawei and ZTE. AI is now going to topple the current international order due to lethality of these technologies. AI-powered autonomous weapons systems (AWS) are being developed by many countries; states are also involved in drone attacks using AI.
This will start an arms race. In this realist world where states are self-centered, they want to increase their power and influence. For doing so, they will strengthen their weapons and technology. When their adversary gets to know they will also struggle to develop the same weapons. This will create a security dilemma in which one nations effort to strengthen its security is perceived as a threat by others. In WW2 when U.S. developed nuclear weapons, U.S.S.R. felt threat from U.S., so a struggle was started during cold war which went successful, and U.S.S.R. also developed nuclear weapons and deterred each other throughout the cold war. The concept of deterrence also works well here with the possession of modern weapons and missiles such as the Iron Dome ABM system, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and underwater missile system, one state can restrict its adversaries’ actions against themselves.
Here are some more examples that will help in better understanding of risks these technologies are posing. Approximately 3000 people were killed during 400 U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan from 2004 to 2018. The drones were used by CIA to target militant group’s members, but in 2011, 24 Pakistani soldiers also got killed. Unauthorized use by, terrorist groups such as ISIS. ISIS used drones in Iraq. These technologies are misused by many of the states and militant groups and raise many questions regarding security. Anonymous are a group of hackers that launched distributed denial of service attack in 2010 against websites of companies that withdrew support from WikiLeaks. Several attacks have been conducted on Irans nuclear program as well.
These technologies are both advantageous and disadvantageous, it depends how they are used. While they provide a lot of opportunities for diplomacy, crisis management, and empowerment, they also present significant challenges such as privacy concerns and cyber warfare. In the past decade, advancement in technologies have increased the threat of cyber warfare and physical attacks by using these technologies. It has become very easy now a days to change people’s perspective by using social media, producing and sharing content which can influence them to change their mind. By hacking adversaries’ network one can take sensitive information, leak or delete it easily without the fear of being identified. Authorities should take proper precautions, limit the number of weapons a country could develop, have a department or committee to look after content citizens have access, organizations should be made to counter militant organizations.
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