Information Power and International Security

Progress in Informatics, No. 1, pp. 39-46, (2005) 39 Research Paper Information power and international security Masahiro Kohara National Institute of Informatics ABSTRACT “Information power” has grown and will continue to grow, increasingly important as an ele- ment of national power in this age of globalization and the information revolution. This paper aims to describe this increasing role of information power. The information revolution has accelerated the pace of globalization and affects the distribution of power among international actors. Meanwhile, the power of non-state actors has been growing within the international community. This change has had a substantial impact on the power and security of nation-states. In particular, international terrorist groups are posing a serious threat to national security and international peace as the inﬂuence of such groups is enhanced by their use of information power. The international community must adopt a new strategy to combat terrorism by promoting international cooperation and its own effective use of information power. Although so-called “hard power” remains a major determinant in the dynamics of international relations, “soft power” of information in today’s information age is even more inﬂuential and effective. Information power is composed of both information technology and information content. The former is essential to increase military and economic power in the information age. The latter is used to form public opinion and deter- mines public trust, perceived legitimacy, and overall appeal. Every nation must nurture its sources of information power to ensure national security in today’s globalized world. Although an in-depth study is required on the relationship between the targets of information power (such as the establishment of legitimacy) and the components of it such power (i.e. a dominant culture or value such as democracy), this paper offers an initial analysis of this relationship. KEYWORDS Globalization, information technology, national power, hard power, soft power, information power, international terrorism, national security, democracy, legitimacy 1 The impact of globalization in the information people, and information have markedly increased and age accelerated, driven by liberalization policies and the Globalization is not a unique phenomenon peculiar technological revolution. to the world of today. However, the degree and the Columbus discovered America after two months of speed of global interpenetration are more obvious than sailing. Today, Queen Elizabeth could sail from ever. The worldwide flow of goods, services, money, Europe to America in six days and the (now retired) Concorde could complete the Atlantic flight in three hours and twenty minutes. You are dressed in Ameri- Received November 17, 2004; Revised February 7, 2005; Accepted February 8, 2005. can jeans or French fashion, eat a hamburger or drink Coca-Cola, watch a Hollywood movie or listen to a 小原先生.indd 39 2006/01/17 10:22:34 40 Progress in Informatics, No. 1, pp. 39-46, (2005) Sony Walkman made in China. Money flows much kets but also in expanding opportunity and promoting more rapidly than ever; this is even more true of infor- cooperation.[1] mation. Globalization integrates the countries and peo- Another effect of globalization is the spread of ples of the world through the enormous reduction in goods, money, people, and information throughout the the costs of transportation and communication. world; this can be both beneficial and harmful to We must make note of two of the major effects of global peace and prosperity. The Asian financial crisis globalization. in 1997 and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks First, no nation can avoid confronting various global in the U.S. clearly demonstrated the concept of global- issues in thus age of globalization. No closed society ization as a double-edged sword. Such effects could in can prosper in a globalized world. Therefore, more fact work against freedom and efficiency within the and more states have liberalized their economies and information-network society. Citizens are likely to have rendered their regimes more transparent and resign themselves to restrictions on their freedom and accountable. Global economic and social transactions privacy drawbacks in exchange for security. This are increasingly liberalized, rather than being con- means that globalization could drive nation-states to trolled by the respective states. Therefore, globaliza- both toward decentralization and subsequent re-cen- tion has had a direct, cross-border impact on people’s tralization of governance; more specifically, toward daily lives. A state can no longer protect its people by the initial diffusion and ensuing concentration of an artificial wall along its border. national power among private entities, local govern- Furthermore, any state, even the U.S. which is the ments, and international organizations. only superpower, cannot afford to resolve on its own various issues caused by globalization. In terms of 2 Hard power and soft power as national power global issues, international organizations and non-gov- National power can be classified into two types: ernmental organizations can play increasingly active “hard” power and “soft” power. Hard power is the roles. The former type of organization is regarded as ability to make others do what one wants, based on the central to the global governance in terms of a func- asymmetries in the possession of material resources. tional approach. The latter type of organization is Soft power is the ability to persuade others to share expected to reflect the interests of the people more one’s goals and vision, based on the attractiveness and directly. Both types of organizations have been work- success of one’s ideas. ing actively to cooperate in areas such as humanitarian According to Hans Morgenthau, national power is assistance. In particular, international NGOs have been defined by nine elements: geography, natural conducting a number of noteworthy grass-roots cam- resources, industrial capacity, military preparedness, paigns on various issues relating to landmines, trade, population, national character, national morale, quality the environment, and more. On the other hand, these of diplomacy, and quality of government[2]. Most of organizations have become catalysts for anti-global- these items are strongly linked to hard power, while ization protests on the occasion of almost every major only the last four are related to soft power. Other meeting of the International Monetary Fund, the World scholars, referred to “realists”, also present similar Bank, and the World Trade Organization. definitions of national power.[3] Soft power represents Second, globalization has a range of both positive an increasingly significant force; one which and negative effects. One of the negative effects is Morgenthau and his followers were not well aware of seen in a widening of the gap between rich and poor. is soft power. Hard power, such as military and eco- Most people in developing countries still lack access nomic power, has previously been the most important to the world market and the global flow of informa- factor in international politics. GNP, land area, population. We need to be concerned about these people, citi- tion, energy production, and military expenditures are zens, excluded from the globalized world. Otherwise, measurable and comparable elements of hard power in those who benefit from globalization will face an both actual and potential terms. angry political backlash from those who are marginal- National power is dynamic and relative power. First, ized by the increasing inequality among and within it is changeable over time. A number of statistics, such some countries. One can in fact point to the phenome- as enrollment ratios and adult literacy rates, are impor- non as a root cause of terrorism. We should be more tant to indices of potential power. Second, in the inter- concerned about this type of negative impact of glo- national community, national power is always com- balization. It is right that Kofi Annan, United Nations pared among nations. In any case, the elements of hard Secretary General, has appealed to the international power are no longer the final determinants in the age community to accept the concept of “inclusive global- of globalization and the information revolution. ization,” whose purpose lies not only in opening mar- Soft power can complement hard power. Hard power Information power and international security 41 alone is not sufficient to ensure national security and content. The former enables people to communicate to create sustainable peace throughout the world. Soft with each other and to collect and disseminate infor- power can change antipathy and hatred into favorable mation more widely, rapidly, cheaply, and easily. ICT feelings and sympathy. International order could be has been the driving force of the information revolu- established through the combination of dominant hard tion and has become a determinant enhancing military power and superior soft power. and economic capabilities. Information content, on the Even though it is difficult to measure or assess soft other hand, consists of words and pictures that can be power, unlike hard power, there is a growing percep- disseminated by ICT: elements used to form a public tion that soft power has certain capabilities to influ- image and influence public sentiment, with corre- ence and change others[4]. sponding effects on popular trust, legitimacy, and Individuals and groups wield soft power to influence appeal. Both technology and content are important, others. While power has been controlled by the sover- but growing attention has come to be paid to the latter. eign state since the Westphalia treaty, globalization Image is an important factor for state and non-state and the information revolution are likely to diffuse actors in the information age. For example, the con- national power, potentially leading to a global threat of cept of the “brand” is one of the decisive elements of anarchy. Non-state actors can enhance their abilities to marketing power among private corporations.

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