The Political Economy of Cyber Conflict

The conference on The Political Economy of Cyber Conflict, organized by ETH Zurich Center for Security Studies, was held on October 27-28, 2023 in Zurich, Switzerland. The conference focused on the interaction between economic issues and interests that shapes the dynamics of cyber conflict and political competition. During two days of intensive discussions, the participants examined how a range of actors, such as governments, hacktivist groups, multinational corporations, and individuals, leverage cyber capabilities to attain their political and economic objectives, and how they are impacted by the repercussions of cyber conflict. The conference also explored how economic incentives and disincentives influence the development of technology, as well as (offensive) cyber capabilities and their use in conflict. Regulatory approaches to managing cyber risks and the commercialization of cyber threat intelligence emerged as critical focal points, highlighting the intricate interplay between economic incentives and cybersecurity strategies.