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Meet the scholar challenging the cyber deterrence paradigm

Fifth Domain: In recent years, U.S. thinking on a national cyber strategy has included, at least in part, a focus on the concept of cyber deterrence. The deterrence theme has been prevalent in civilian government and military leaders’ speeches, as well as congressional hearings and scholarly literature. (See, for instance, Fifth Domain coverage here, here and here.)

While many agree on the need for a U.S. national cyber strategy, few have challenged the premise of a strategy built largely around cyber deterrence. But one scholar has recently published a series of academic papers that do exactly that — question the very premise for and the effectiveness of a deterrence strategy in cyberspace.

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