The evolution of NATO’s cyber defence policy: “How does the path dependency rooted in NATO’s past institutional choices influence the development and adaptation of its cyber policy in the face of contemporary technical challenges ?”

Details

Supervisors

Baele, Stephane

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences politiques, orientation relations internationales, à finalité spécialisée: enjeux contemporains de la gouvernance globale

Abstract

enThis study examines the evolution of NATO’s cyber defence policies and how they are adapting to the new cyber threats facing the world today. Considering NATO’s strategic concepts and key historical events, the central question is: How has NATO’s cyber defence evolved, particularly in response to emerging threats and modern technologies? This paper aims to demonstrate how NATO’s evolution can be understood through institutionalist theory, particularly with an emphasis on path dependency. The study uses a process-tracking methodology. The results are presented through an analysis that confirms the central hypothesis: path dependence, stemming from NATO’s past institutional choices, limits the effectiveness of its cyber defence policy in addressing contemporary technological challenges. The results highlight the importance of past institutional decisions in shaping contemporary policy frameworks. In conclusion, NATO’s historical institutional choices have created path dependency that limits the complete adaptation of its cyber defence policy to the realities of an evolving technological landscape.