Technology is not merely a tool for power. It is a means of power itself. A theory derived from political realism, navigating the intersections of technology and politics.
Techno-realism places technology at the core of power analysis, arguing that the innate human drive for survival shapes identity formation in an era where sovereignty and authority extend into digital and technological realms.
Technology and the survival instinct embedded in human nature fundamentally shape how political, social, and digital identities are formed. Digital ecosystems reinforce and transform identities across diverse political groups.
Technology is not merely an instrument wielded by those in power; it has become the central source of power itself. From surveillance systems to AI and quantum computing, technological capability defines political authority.
Big Tech companies, NGOs, hacker groups, and transnational activist networks shape data governance, influence political processes, and challenge traditional notions of sovereignty beyond state-centric analysis.
Examining how cyberpolitics and surveillance technologies are deployed to exert state control, reshape identities, and manage populations, illustrating technology as a direct instrument of political power.
Analysing how technology shaped political power struggles during Indonesia's 2024 elections, including social media manipulation and the use of information and electronic transaction law to control freedom of speech.
Exploring regional power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific as states and non-state actors confront the spread of digital authoritarianism, and how technological dominance reshapes geopolitical relationships.
Published in Security and Defence Quarterly, Open Access (CC BY)
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