Sovereignty and Digital Transformation: The Competition of Technological Platforms in a New World
Sovereignty and Digital Transformation: The Competition of Technological Platforms in a New World
An analysis of global digital competition, highlighting the rivalry of technological platforms, challenges of sovereignty, and strategies for nations to maintain independence in the digital era.
Abstract
The sphere of technology has become one of the key areas in the struggle for power in the 21st century. The global digital revolution has transformed technological and economic structures, social relations, and even the philosophy of human life. Trends set by new technologies determine the directions of development for the international relations system.
By the early third decade of the century, two major "technological ecosystems" have clearly formed — the American and the Chinese. The American system, being the oldest and most developed, relies on the United States' unquestioned technological leadership. The U.S. attracts talent from around the world, creates favorable conditions for startups, and uses methods of competition far removed from purely economic means.
Key Characteristics of the American System
The capacity of the market and favorable domestic conditions have allowed the U.S. to launch the largest tech and internet giants, whose intellectual property rights are well-protected by law. However, despite its advocacy for openness and freedom in the digital sphere, the U.S. will not hesitate to revise these principles should its dominance be seriously threatened.
Even within the U.S., the decisions of tech giants to block or delete over 70,000 accounts, including those of President Donald Trump, resemble overt attempts to seize control of governance tools. The alignment of political, financial, and technological elites may continue to oppose nationalist industrial agendas in both the U.S. and other countries.
The Chinese Approach
China’s technological and economic platform is more modest than the American one but no less ambitious in its aspirations for leadership. Leveraging its financial and human capital, China has built a self-contained ecosystem and administratively allocates resources to areas deemed promising by its leadership. Unlike the U.S., which offers trial versions of its products globally, China's competitiveness lies in the affordability of its solutions and its investments in advanced developments in other nations.
Challenges for Russian Sovereignty
The question for Russia is whether to join one of these platforms or build its own. The former requires clear terms of integration, while the latter, a more ambitious path, involves developing a unique technological ecosystem. Russia possesses the foundational technological and human capabilities necessary for this endeavor.
Global Digital Trends
The rapid development of science and technology has simultaneously reduced socioeconomic inequality and heightened societal vulnerabilities to both real and perceived threats. While the Internet has improved global connectivity, it has also fostered state-level fragmentation as governments seek to protect their digital spaces from external influence.
The Future of Digital Sovereignty
The concept of sovereignty now extends into the digital domain, with countries striving to control their critical digital infrastructure. The absence of universal agreements on digital sovereignty parallels the lack of accords on issues such as artificial intelligence and military applications of supercomputers, which further exacerbates the international security landscape.
Conclusion
For Russia, maintaining digital sovereignty is critical not only for national security but also for the broader geopolitical stability of Eurasia. Building an independent technological ecosystem is not merely a strategic choice but a necessity for survival in the 21st-century digital landscape.