Geopolitics: Technology is reshaping the world map

The political, strategic, economic and social challenges arising from technological advances are numerous and evolving rapidly. Whether in the military (hard power) or civilian (soft power) sphere, or traditional spheres such as trade and communications, new fields in human history such as space and cyber industries, and the use of technology. clearly affect the relationship between state powers. The strategies pursued by particular political actors to increase their influence over their citizens and opponents, or to conquer new lands, depend, for better or worse, on what science and engineering have to offer. .

Find some examples in these previously published articles by Equal Times.

Can the militarization of space be avoided?

Jesus A. Nunez Villaverde

The launch of the satellite Sputnik 1 into orbit on October 4, 1957 pushed the conquest of space to the top of the agendas of world powers, pushing the traditional areas of strategic competition over land and sea. , positioned alongside the universe. air. And while driven in part by the human desire to transcend known frontiers, the space race is above all as a central component of the struggle for planetary supremacy among a handful of global powers. must be understood.

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Cyberattacks targeting vulnerable people are on the rise in the Middle East

Clement Gibbon

Cyberspace is less visible than traditional warfare, but equally capable of wreaking havoc, making it an increasingly favored battleground in the Middle East as nations and other regional actors vie for new cyber supremacy. It has become

Cyberattacks in recent months have increasingly targeted civilians. For example, in October 2021, when Iran’s nationwide fuel distribution network was paralyzed. By sabotaging the smart payment system the government uses to dispense subsidized gasoline, hackers have forced nearly all petrol stations to shut down in Iran. It further exacerbated social and political discontent within the country.

Shortly after the attack, which Iranian authorities blamed on Israel, Iran-linked hacker group Black Shadow leaked the personal data of Israeli users of LGBTQ dating app Atraf. Hila Peer, president of The Aguda, an organization that fights for LGBTQ rights, told AFP the hackers “choose the right target if they want to cause panic.”

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Militarization in Latin America is gaining momentum amid pandemic, analysts warn

Maurizio Guerrero

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Latin American armed forces have critical tasks, including manufacturing protective equipment, delivering food, and treating civilians in hospitals. In at least a dozen countries, soldiers have been deployed to carry out containment measures, often by force, against populations made up mostly of poor informal workers. In Venezuela and Bolivia, the military has also been used to suppress political opposition and strengthen governments of questionable democratic legitimacy. I fear that if militarization becomes the new normal and there are not enough civilian institutions, many governments will use the military to provide basic services while cracking down on their critics. They warn that democracy in Latin America could be in vain once the pandemic is over.

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How to get friends and influence people – Beijing style

Juan Pablo Cardenal

Located 1,300 kilometers west of Buenos Aires and near the Chilean border in the remote semidesert of Neuquen, Patagonia, the Chinese space program’s ground station stands as a symbol of China’s political power beyond its own borders. increase. The over 200-hectare base has a 35-meter diameter antenna for communicating with objects in deep space. Although officially part of China’s lunar program and intended for scientific use, Western analysts speculate that the Chinese government could also use it for military purposes.

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