Cyber (In)Security Within Contested Deployment

The post-Cold War international system of the 21^st century has not led to the “end of history,” as argued by Francis Fukuyama in his seminal book The End of History and the Last Man (1992). Instead, the international system has become more complex with a revival of great power competition: a competition today that is not only kinetic but also occurs in cyberspace. Today’s cyber-attacks against the U.S.’s critical infrastructure could have devastating consequences never seen before in the history of humanity. The enemy’s ability to launch a cyber-attack against the U.S.’s critical infrastructure represents a significant security threat for the U.S. deployment of force to future operational theaters. This article examines who are the enemies within contested deployment; what are the enemies’ objectives; what are the implications for the homeland; and finally, recommends what actions the U.S. could take to protect the homeland.