The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
A seminar with Robert Mason, Associate Professor of Middle East Studies and Director, Middle East Studies Center, American University in Cairo.
Talk Abstract
The recent Gulf-Qatar crisis has underscored the perils associated with small state foreign policy assertiveness, over-reach and encroachment on other's spheres of interest. This talk summarizes the key features of Qatari and Emirati foreign policy and their respective successes and failures at enhancing, projecting and sustaining influence. It concludes with assertions on under what conditions a small state can elevate itself to a 'tipping point' of middle powerhood.
