Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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DPPG 9550

Humanitarian Side of Cyber

There are some 28 definitions of cyberspace, nearly all of which involve some form of digital networks. Digital networks are essential to the conduct of humanitarian operations. Such operations fall into three broad categories: (1) Preparations to improve humanitarian environments, such as capacity building, developing community and individual resilience, and conflict avoidance; (2) crisis activities, including disaster relief (domestic and foreign) and conflict resolution; (3) long term humanitarian activities, such as humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping operations, support to refugees and internally displaced persons, setting conditions for elections and return to civilian government, and foreign aid. The ability to disrupt, or support, such activities through cyber means also raises important policy, ethical and moral questions, as well as issues of International Humanitarian Law—what is humanitarian assistance to one party may be strategic war material to another. Digital humanitarians also may be at personal risk from cyberattack, as may their relatives in some countries. These topics are more wide-ranging than many realize and show the importance of the “humanitarian side of cyber” topic.
Subject:
Development Practice & Policy
Department:
Development Practice & Policy
Division:
Intl Policy & Management
Requirements Fulfilled:

Sections

Fall 2016 - MIIS, MIIS Workshop

DPPG9550A-F16 Workshop (Wells)

Fall 2015 - MIIS, MIIS Workshop

DPPG9550A-F15 Workshop (Wells)