ABSTRACT
Digitalization is a fundamental vector of data capitalism. It has profound power implications for the public and private actors that are contesting the redefinition of the rules and practices of a global political economy in transition to a data capitalism. These changes are the focus of cyberpolitics, a growing interdisciplinary field that is making contributions to the IR/IPE literature. However, at least two elements are problematic of this literature. First, it has not fully explored the implications of the digitalization process in the structuring a new global political economy associated with the power of data generation, access and control. Second, research in cyberpolitics remains largely concentrated in the small group of countries that are leading or disputing the hegemony of data technology and practices. Contributions from research in the Global South have been minimal. To fill this gap this chapter looks at the implications of the digitalization process in four strategic areas: cybersecurity; governance of digital trade and global finance; human rights and citizenship on the Internet; the environment and the environment-sustainable development nexus.
