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.”
About
The Diplomacy and International Politics Program comprises the Belfer Center’s signature projects on diplomacy and regional politics, including the Future of Diplomacy Project, the Middle East Initiative, the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship, and – in conjunction with the Harvard Law and Harvard Business Schools – the Secretaries of State Project.
Though distinct in focus, all emphasize the essential role of diplomacy in preventing conflict and building a more secure, peaceful world. Together, these projects support research, teaching, and policy engagement for a diverse community of current and former diplomats, students, faculty, fellows, service members, and executives.