A Fresh Perspective on Statecraft in the Cyber Domain
The idea of "cyber war" has played a dominant role in both academic and popular discourse concerning the nature of statecraft in the cyber domain. However, this lens of war and its expectations for death and destruction may distort rather than help clarify the nature of cyber competition and conflict. Are cyber activities actually more like an intelligence contest, where both states and nonstate actors grapple for information advantage below the threshold of war?
In Deter, Disrupt, or Deceive, Robert Chesney and Max Smeets argue that reframing cyber competition as an intelligence contest will improve our ability to analyze and strategize about cyber events and policy. The contributors to this volume debate the logics and implications of this reframing. They examine this intelligence concept across several areas of cyber security policy and in different national contexts. Taken as a whole, the chapters give rise to a unique dialogue, illustrating areas of agreement and disagreement among leading experts and placing all of it in conversation with the larger fields of international relations and intelligence studies.
What This Book Covers
This volume provides comprehensive analysis of cyber competition through the intelligence lens rather than traditional warfare frameworks. Contributors examine how states and nonstate actors compete for information advantage in the cyber domain, exploring deception tactics, disruption strategies, and deterrence mechanisms. The book addresses cyber security policy across multiple national contexts, offering comparative perspectives on how different countries approach cyber intelligence operations.
The authors present frameworks for understanding cyber statecraft that move beyond simplistic "cyber war" narratives. By analyzing cyber activities as intelligence contests, readers gain tools to better assess cyber events, predict adversary behavior, and develop more effective policy responses. The book bridges academic theory with practical implications for national security practitioners.
About the Editors
Robert Chesney is the Dean of the University of Texas School of Law, where he also holds the James A. Baker III Chair in the Rule of Law and World Affairs. He is also a co-founder of and contributor to the blog Lawfare and co-host of the National Security Law Podcast.
Max Smeets is a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich and Director of the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative.
Deter, Disrupt, or Deceive is essential reading for scholars, practitioners, and students seeking to understand statecraft in the cyber domain.
