Digital Sovereignty and Technological Decoupling as a Modern Tool for International Conflict Management

Abstract

This research examines the concepts of digital sovereignty and technological decoupling as modern structural tools in managing and directing contemporary international conflicts. With the rise of interdependence in cyberspace, major powers have realized that technological superiority is no longer merely a catalyst for economic growth, but rather a core pillar of national security and state survival. The study analyzes how the global system has transitioned from an era of open digital globalization to a period of fragmentation or "internet balkanization," where states seek to minimize their reliance on rivals' technological supply chains to protect their data and critical infrastructure. The research highlights the geopolitical implications of decoupling and how alliances are being redrawn based on technological alignment, laying the foundation for a new digital cold war. To achieve the study's objectives and test its hypothesis, the research employs a descriptive approach to deconstruct and establish the conceptual foundations of digital sovereignty and technological decoupling. Additionally, it utilizes an inductive approach to understand the implications of the militarization of technology and the fragmentation of cyberspace for the balance of power and the nature of conflicts within the contemporary global order.

To address the research problem, the study is organized into an introduction, two main sections, and a conclusion. The first section addresses the conceptual framework and theoretical underpinnings of digital sovereignty and technological decoupling, while the second section discusses the geopolitical repercussions of technological decoupling and the redrawing of the conflict map. Finally, the research concludes with a summary of the key findings.