Cyber Warfare: Implications for NATO and Collective Defense
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
NATO, Cyber Warfare, jus ad bellum
Department
Political Science
Major
Political Science
Abstract
The emergence of cyber warfare has created a debate among government officials, lawyers, and scholars to define how a cyber attack is to be interpreted under jus ad bellum criteria. The core of this discussion concerns at what point such an attack can be equated with a “use of force” or “armed attack” as defined by the UN Charter and international norms. NATO, whose membership contains some of the world’s most powerful militaries, will also be forced to address this issue if one of its members becomes the victim of a devastating cyber attack. This paper explores considerations to be taken by NATO when determining how collective defense, designed to counter Soviet Cold War aggression, applies to the realm of cyber warfare. It concludes by presenting a set of guidelines to be used by the North Atlantic Council when confronted with a decision of whether to invoke Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty, in response to a cyber attack on a member state.
Faculty Mentor
Dan Caldwell
Funding Source or Research Program
Political Science Honors Program
Presentation Session
Session A
Location
Plaza Classroom 189
Start Date
3-4-2015 4:00 PM
End Date
3-4-2015 4:15 PM
Cyber Warfare: Implications for NATO and Collective Defense
Plaza Classroom 189
The emergence of cyber warfare has created a debate among government officials, lawyers, and scholars to define how a cyber attack is to be interpreted under jus ad bellum criteria. The core of this discussion concerns at what point such an attack can be equated with a “use of force” or “armed attack” as defined by the UN Charter and international norms. NATO, whose membership contains some of the world’s most powerful militaries, will also be forced to address this issue if one of its members becomes the victim of a devastating cyber attack. This paper explores considerations to be taken by NATO when determining how collective defense, designed to counter Soviet Cold War aggression, applies to the realm of cyber warfare. It concludes by presenting a set of guidelines to be used by the North Atlantic Council when confronted with a decision of whether to invoke Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty, in response to a cyber attack on a member state.