Cyber warfare and the Use of Force; Does Right of Self-Defense Make Any Sense in Cyberspace?

Subject Areas : Political and International Researches Quarterly

Received: 2011-12-11 Accepted : 2012-03-06 Published : 2012-06-19

Keywords: Cyber War, International law, Use of Force, the Right of Self-defense,

Abstract :

Cyber warfare has exhibited new ways of fighting and weapons that could potentially replace other methods in the war staged by governments and other non-governmental actors.The unique nature of the threat posed by cyber warfare and the ability or inability of these war-makers in the form of sustaining injury, death or causing physical destruction caused by the virtual environments has led to the expansion of the traditional definition of the use of force.By clear and explicit demarcation of the rights for both parties involved in the cyber battle- such as right of self-defense-and based on the presented patterns, the world community should come to a unanimity and consensus over the definition of cyber warfare in law of war