Cyberthreats to Democracies. Constructed Dangers to Democratic Functions

Abstract

This dissertation studies recent types of Cyberthreats to Western democracies, most notably Russia‘s interference in the 2016 the UK Brexit referendum and US presidential elections.It examines Russian Cyber Information Incluence Activities (IIA) and calls upon new approaches from Democratic Theory and Constructive Theory to provide frameworks for analysis. Through this analysis Russian Cyberattacks and democratic weak spots are identified and theorized. A framework of democratic social functions outlines vulnerable democratic activities, providing valuable input into Cybersecurity in theory and practice. Secondly the thesis uses an Ideational framework of ideas and levels of change from Constructive theory for an analsyis of Russian IIA, analyzing the methods Russia uses to attack democracy through Cyberspace. The evidence shows that Russia uses an array of Cyber-tactics to systematically attack political action and public discourse amongst its democratic opponents. Russia’s Cyberattacks are markedly different than previous Cyberthreats; they are largely discursive, with Russia using techology and system weaknesses to influence democracy.The purpose of this thesis is to apply political theory to help Cybersecurity experts and public decision makers understand modern Cyber-threats and assist them in protecting democracy.