Cyberpeace Through Cyberspace: Nation-Building Against Transnational Terrorism

摘要

Due to recent vulnerabilities of Department of Defense (DoD) networks, along with the rising importance of cyberspace and cyberspace warfare endeavors among competing great powers, the DoD is quickly recognizing the importance of cyberspace. At the same time, the roles of the military are shifting from traditional, strategic and conventional conflict into what Secretary of Defense Robert Gates calls 'soft power'-the capacity to perform nation-building missions against transnational terrorism. Cyberspace operations can play an important role in soft power as developing countries grow in their connectivity to information, especially with the proliferation of cell phone networks. By the end of 2010, 71 percent of new Internet users will be from developing nations. Ninety percent of the entire globe already has mobile phone access. This thesis studies two promising utilizations of mobile phones: mobile money and mobile surveillance. It is found that mobile money may reduce the threat of crime in non-stable areas where the United States is conducting nation-building operations. It then discusses new technologies through mobile phones and mobile devices which may help to prevent the theft of WMD.