Keywords
denial of service
cyber espionage
non-kinetic warfare
malware
How to Cite
Abstract
The rise of cyber warfare has reshaped modern conflict, shifting attention from physical battles to digital arenas where states and non-state actors exploit weaknesses in national systems. This paper examines how cyber operations now influence political and economic outcomes without traditional combat, drawing on recent global incidents and insights from Realism and Postmodern Warfare. Using case study and content analysis of secondary data, it highlights the strategic, ethical, and legal dilemmas of cyber activity and the inability of traditional military doctrines to address emerging asymmetric threats. The paper finds cyber warfare as a deliberate instrument states deploy to project power globally, and that global stability depends on how seriously governments and international bodies take cyber threats. It underscores the need for nations to strengthen cyber defense and rethink security frameworks, urging the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to establish binding rules governing state behaviour in cyberspace.
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