The last two decades have seen a rapid increase in state military cybercapacity. Yet why states decide to develop this capacity is a poorly understood phenomenon. A few existing works highlight threats as the main explanation. Dr. Kostyuk’s research shows that this argument is important but incomplete. Dr. Kostyuk argues that, when deciding to build their cybercapabilities, nations pay attention to their allies that have already developed such capabilities because: (1) these allies are the closest peer group with the most relevant experience fighting cyberthreats; and (2) nations want to signal that they are in the process of contributing to collective security in order to reduce their allies’ fear of entrapment (i.e., a nation bringing their ally into an unwanted conflict) and their own fear of abandonment (i.e., an ally shirking responsibility). Join CEUTTS and the Tech4Humanity Lab as together we examine with Dr. Kostyuk the “Diffusion of State Military Cybercapacity.” 

Dr. Nadiya Kostyuk is an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology.  Her research focuses on security studies, modern warfare, cyber conflict, cyber institutions and capability, Russian and Eurasian politics. Methodological areas of interest include network analysis, mathematical and computational modeling, and text analysis.  Dr. Kostyuk’s research has been published in the Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Strategic Studies, Institute of Electrical Engineers the Cyber Defense Review, and several edited volumes and general-audience publications.  

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