When Less is More

Cognition and the Outcome of Cyber Coercion

Author(s): Miguel Alberto Gomez
Journal Title: Cyber, Intelligence, and Security
Reviewed:  
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Pages: 3-19
Publication Year: 2018

The rise of offensive interstate cyber interactions continues to fan interest in the coercive potential of cyber operations. However, empirical evidence from past cases suggests that such operations often perform poorly, with adversaries opting to resist rather than comply with an aggressor’s demands. This paper contends that this does not necessarily mean the coercive potential of cyber operations can be dismissed. Instead, it argues for a shift in how we explain state behavior, suggesting a move away from prevailing normative interpretations and towards approaches that use cognitive heuristics.

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