Back to Search
Start Over
Responding to Uncertainty: The Importance of Covertness in Support for Retaliation to Cyber and Kinetic Attacks.
- Source :
- Journal of Conflict Resolution; Nov2023, Vol. 67 Issue 10, p1873-1903, 31p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- This paper investigates the escalation dynamics of cyber attacks. Two main theories have been advanced. First, "means-based" theory argues attack type determines response; cyber attacks are less likely to escalate than kinetic attacks. Second, "effects-based" theory argues an attack's material consequences determine the likelihood of retaliation. We advance a third perspective, arguing that the covertness of an attack has the largest effect on its propensity towards escalation. We identify two characteristics of covertness that affect support for retaliation: the certainty of attribution and its timing. We use a survey experiment to assess public support for retaliation, while varying the means, effects, timing, and attribution certainty of attacks. We find no evidence for the effects-based approach, instead finding high levels of support for retaliation regardless of an attack's scale. We find that the most significant contributor to support for retaliation is an attack's covertness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ATTRIBUTION (Social psychology)
PUBLIC support
CYBERTERRORISM
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00220027
- Volume :
- 67
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Conflict Resolution
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 173122155
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/00220027231153580