Roles and Limitations of Middle Powers in Shaping Global Cyber Governance

Global cyber governance is characterised by a West vs. non-West paradigm that glosses over a significant body of states that exhibit more nuanced positions. Such dichotomy has gained greater traction in the midst of geopolitical tensions between the United States on the one hand and China and Russia on the other. Examining the roles and limitations of middle powers, such as Singapore and South Korea, in their efforts to shape global cyber governance allows moving beyond the West vs. non-West paradigm. By employing a range of middle-power behaviours, Singapore and South Korea have been able to carve out a unique role as middle powers and, to some extent, shape the arena in which debates on global cyber governance take place, although not without constraints.