Cyberspace in Strategy and Grand Strateg

Debates over grand strategy have taken on renewed importance as the United States has shifted away from a predominant focus on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency toward a new era of great power competition. Questions over things like military deployments, the utility of force, the purpose of alliances, the value of free trade, and the role of international institutions are informed to a large degree about how states conceive of their role in the world and how policymakers believe they can best cause security for their countries; in other words, much of it boils down to grand strategy. Despite the importance of grand strategy in contemporary discussions about international security dynamics and foreign policy, the role that cyberspace plays in these debates has largely been neglected. Yet, cyberspace has unique implications for grand strategy—it affects nearly every aspect of contemporary strategy, from the employment of military power and alliances to diplomacy and economic statecraft.

This course will explore the intersection of cyberspace in strategy and grand strategy, with a focus on the United States, although we will also examine other non-U.S. critical cases throughout the semester. We will evaluate how existing theories and concepts extend to cyberspace, as well as how cyberspace is shaping the development and conduct of strategy. The course is largely organized around the different instruments of national power and their application to cyberspace, with a focus on critical use cases. We will address questions such as, what is the nature of cyber power and how do states use cyberspace for strategic ends? How do states use cyberspace as a military tool and what are the implications for international stability? What are the prospects for cyber diplomacy and international cooperation? The goal of this course is to bridge theory and policy—to explore how esoteric concepts like deterrence apply (or don’t) to the reality of state behavior in cyberspace. Throughout the semester, we will hear from guest lecturers with both practical and academic experiences to enhance our discussions.