# Cyber Conflicts as a New Global Threat
## Results  
### Cyber Conflicts Research Problem  
Apparently, and somewhat predictably, the primary problem with existing CCs research is the approach to the research object. While CCs and MCCs have become cutting edge and different from any conflict and weapon in the physical realm, researchers are trying to apply a narrow technical understanding of warfare that worked before CCs and are fastening an old fashioned paradigm when trying to understand the radically different means, methods, objectives, and impacts of cyber conflicts. The old-fashioned coercion-centric paradigm currently dominating in research is deeply insufficient to understand cyber conflicts, as tools have shifted from coercion in its classical form to more advanced means. It is hard to say that the current approach is even partially successful while: (1) there are no reliable mechanisms for cyber conflicts assessment (not on a case-by-case and fact-specific basis [8]); (2) it is still impossible to appropriately evaluate the effects of conflict that do not cause mass casualties and/or destruction [9]; (3) it is unclear how cyber conflicts are interrelated with conflicts conducted with conventional means; (4) it is ambiguous what the potential strategic implications of cyber conflicts could be [9]; (5) legal regulation is based on persistent efforts to interpret existing norms [10], rather than accept the need for special regulation of cyber conflicts like the one for other cyberspace-related issues such as e-commerce and cyber crime. Even information operations could address the use of old \"tools\", but not CCs. Therefore, the need to identify the basic features that make CCs unique in comparison to physical conflict and impede its research is of primary importance. These features include:  
* Fast emergence. CCs have emerged very quickly and are rapidly changing together with ICT, seriously diminishing the application of the historical approach, which is the basic one for military studies. Historical methodology is still important, but only for the period relating to cyberspace. In addition, there are neither sufficient historical materials nor appropriate methodologies to understand the conflict's history, which spans less than 30 years. It is also important that, for this period, no single wide-scale CC has taken place, but only \"local\" ones (limited to few nations and/or a certain region). * Insufficient social basis. During the relatively short period of CCs' existence, appropriate institutions and sufficient public knowledge to evaluate the potential of CCs and cope with its threats were not formed. Such a situation could lead to paradoxes, such as the idea that \"malicious code has not, so far, generated sufficient harm or damage to warrant serious human rights attention\" [11], only because the human right for secure cyberspace had not yet been declared. * Dependence on the social sphere. CCs' effects depend on the way and degree of integration of ICT into society. * Complete mediation by cyberspace. This means that an operation is maintained in a totally new landscape existing without familiar time and space dimensions, instead having new \"human\" dimensions. * CCs could almost be considered an \"ideal conflict\", having blurred lines between peace and war, military and civilians, war and crime, and even war and the right for protest. This is leading to the massive weaponization of previously peaceful spheres of life. * High potential for the broad involvement of non-state actors. Currently, sources needed for participation in CCs or the creation of MCCs are not monopolized by the state or any other social institution, and are not extremely expensive, which could affect their availability to a wide range of persons. Some transnational companies already compete with states for control over information and ICT services. Occurring simultaneously, the absence of both physical and serious technical barriers gives anyone the ability to use MCCs. Private persons are becoming not only combatants in cyber conflict, but targets as well.