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Fluid Character of Cyberspace and Perspectives of International Regime Development

Cyber Politics
International Relations
Internet
Post-Modernism
Nikola Schmidt
Institute of International Relations Prague
Nikola Schmidt
Institute of International Relations Prague

Abstract

William Gibson introduced cyberspace as a term in his novel in 1984. Since then, many definitions have been developed in strategy documents or lawyers’ analyses, but almost all lack the most important character of cyberspace – fluidity. It means that rules, principles, usage habits, services provided and then the influence of physical world are continuously changing. Technologies such as TOR or torrents based on decentralization principle are important in the analysis as a direct reaction to (or reflection of) any regime development efforts. This article stands on the sociological theory of fluid society developed by postmodern sociologist Zygmunt Bauman. Cyberspace dissolves our perception of rules and customary law that have been stable for centuries; that have provided stability, certainty and trust. This article proposes a perspective why the fluid cyberspace along with variety of emerging dilemmas may never develop into a stable regime where states define rules of the game.