Kinetic Versus Cyber Attacks: A Look At International Response To A New Domain Of Conflict
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Date
2021-08-25
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
This study looks at cyber attacks on the international level and how they may be unique from conventional domains of conflict, which in turn impact international response to such conflicts. Specifically, this study questions how the differences in the relationships between cyber and kinetic attacks affect international response. A qualitative social science study was conducted in order to evaluate the question posed. A comparative case study analysis was conducted using Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2013-ongoing) as the case studies. Both of these conflicts displayed both cyber and kinetic attacks. Kinetic attacks, cyber attacks, and international response for each of the case studies was analyzed. The goal was to observe the applicability of ‘armed attack’ in each situation as well as the rate of the international response. Coding of critical primary sources related to the issue area were used as well. The primary sources used were four congressional testimonies on the conflicts used as the case studies. The main themes that were drawn out of this form of content analysis were conflict, assistance, and response.
The results of the data analysis revealed that there is a difference of response when it comes to kinetic versus cyber domain. With kinetic attacks, a conventional framework can commonly be applied and countries are prepared to respond in a direct manner whether that is with economic consequences, diplomatic intervention, verbal condemnation, and/or physical action. With cyber attacks, issues of attribution and lack of concrete nature of attacks can likely contribute to hesitation of nation states to respond to such action. As the case studies used illustrated, cyber attacks can contribute to kinetic attacks and cause damage on their own accord as well. This means that such attacks cannot be taken lightly, and an applicable framework needs to be established. This study established the need for such a framework and paved the way to future research that needs to be considered.
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Keywords
cyber, kinetic, attack, conflict, domains of conflict, response, international, armed attack, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine