This research aims to test the conceptual foundations and theoretical assumptions of neorealism in cyberspace. The research focuses in particular on the issue of security, as it is one of the most important issues for realists. Here, the issue of cybersecurity is addressed from the perspective of neorealism in three steps. first, cybersecurity is integrated into the main analytical elements of neorealism, including international anarchy, states’ quest to maximize their power/security, and the security dilemma. second, cyber deterrence and the balance of offense-defense in the cyber domain will be addressed as two ways to protect cybersecurity. Finally, the criticisms those neorealism analyses in cyberspace suffer from are presented. Overall, this research attempts to contribute to bridging the gap in the analysis of neorealism in cyberspace. It does do so by identifying gaps in the theory with the aim of pushing it towards developing a version of the realist theory for the cyberworld.
The theoretical framework of the research: The research takes the theory of neo-realism as a theoretical framework in order to understand cybersecurity.