Russia as a Norm Entrepreneur in International Information Security: Motivations and Impact

In 1998 Russia highlighted the potential security issues with new, emerging technologies. Although these technologies were seen as a potential driver for positive development, such as cooperation between states and economic growth, Russia also identified potential threats. In an attempt to avoid these threats, Russia has since the late 1990s been advocating for a new universally binding regulatory framework specifically for information and communication technology (ICT). However, such a treaty has yet to materialise.
The aim of this thesis is to explain Russia’s behaviour within the field of ICT through constructed beliefs that shapes Russia’s identity and interests as an actor. The basis of the argument made in this study is that norms are connected to national identity, and norms also have an impact on how international law emerges and develops. Here, norm entrepreneurs play an important role in drawing attention to new areas where either new norms, or reinterpretation of existing norms, are needed. The thesis argues that Russia’s diplomatic efforts within international information security (IIS) can to an extent be explained by examining Russia’s threat perception and that Russia is acting from a position of weakness and vulnerability rather than strength. Not taking Russia’s sense of insecurity seriously can reduce our ability to understand Russia’s motivations within the field.
In addition, Russia has also elevated their threat perception to an international level by framing information as a threat, which is appealing to certain like-minded countries. However, the West has not accepted Russia’s proposals on a new legal framework for ICT. Despite facing resistance, Russia has not slowed down its diplomatic efforts and is now contesting the liberal system that, from a Russian viewpoint, currently controls the field of ICT. The thesis argues that Russia has made progress as a norm entrepreneur within the field of ICT, gathering support for its values and ideas. By building coalitions of like-minded states Russia is using the field of IIS to contest liberal norms and values within international law.
The thesis begins to address a gap in the literature, where limited attention has been paid as to what motivates Russia to be a normative actor in relation to international law in the field of ICT. The study provides a new perspective on how international law within the area of IIS has been developing and develops, offers a necessary contrasting theoretical perspective of the dominant Western-centric examination of Russia’s diplomatic actions, and presents an in- depth empirical analysis of Russia’s long-standing diplomatic efforts within IIS.