Comparison of Regional Models of Cooperation in Combating Cyberterrorism
Keywords:
Cyberterrorism, Regional Cooperation, Cybersecurity, Legal Convergence, Information Exchange, Cyber GovernanceAbstract
The expansion of digital technologies and the increasing dependence of governments and societies on cyber infrastructures have created the conditions for the emergence and intensification of cyberterrorism. Due to its decentralized nature and technical complexity, this transnational threat necessitates structured and multilayered regional cooperation among states. The present article adopts a comparative approach to examine and compare regional models of cooperation in combating cyberterrorism. Within this framework, patterns of cooperation in regions such as the European Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the African Union, and ASEAN are analyzed from the perspectives of legal structure, information-sharing mechanisms, operational coordination, capacity-building, and the degree of institutionalization. The findings indicate that regional models can generally be classified into three categories: the “institution-oriented model with a binding legal framework,” the “security-oriented cooperation model focused on cyber sovereignty,” and the “flexible coordination model based on consensus.” Differences in the level of political trust, technological capacity, legal convergence, and interpretations of the concept of cybersecurity play a decisive role in the effectiveness of these models. The article concludes that the effectiveness of regional cooperation in countering cyberterrorism requires a combination of legal harmonization, rapid information-sharing mechanisms, joint exercises, and transparent accountability frameworks.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Laya Mosahef (Author); Alireza Ansari Mahyari
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