Abstract
Cybersecurity has traditionally been examined through the lens of state security, geopolitics, and technological capabilities. However, Cybersecurity, sovereignty, and digital resistance in the Global South challenges this conventional framework by integrating feminist and postcolonial perspectives to highlight the social and human dimensions of cybersecurity. This edited volume interrogates the role of technology as a neocolonial force, examines the impact of digital threats on marginalized communities, and calls for an inclusive and human-centred approach to cybersecurity studies. By weaving together case studies, content analysis, and practitioners’ experiences, the book offers a groundbreaking intervention in cybersecurity discourse. A key strength of the book lies in its thematic focus on digital security as a matter of human security rather than merely as national or corporate security. The contributors argue that conventional cybersecurity discussions prioritize state sovereignty and corporate interests while overlooking how cybersecurity policies, cyber threats, and digital governance affect women and other gender minorities, Indigenous groups, and other marginalized populations in the Global South. The book effectively deconstructs hegemonic narratives that frame cybersecurity as an apolitical domain and instead highlights its deeply embedded social and political ramifications.
One of the volume’s central arguments is that technology functions as a tool of digital colonialism, reinforcing historical inequalities in power, knowledge, and access. This thesis is particularly evident in chapters addressing the intersection of cybersecurity and gender-based violence online, especially in the case of the narratives on gender violence and threats. These contributions illustrate how digital platforms both endanger and empower women and marginalized communities, exposing them to online harassment, surveillance, and data exploitation. By applying a feminist security studies lens, the book emphasizes the urgent need for intersectional cybersecurity policies that center on the lived experiences of those most vulnerable to digital threats. A notable methodological strength of the book is its reliance on diverse approaches, including qualitative research, content analysis, and policy critique. This methodological diversity allows the editors and contributors to provide a nuanced and comprehensive examination of cybersecurity issues in the Global South. The inclusion of practitioners’ perspectives enhances the book’s applicability, bridging the gap between academic discourse and real-world cybersecurity challenges faced by activists, journalists, and civil society organizations, thus paving way for praxis.
One of the key potential limitations of the volume is that, while it successfully critiques existing cybersecurity paradigms, it occasionally falls short in providing concrete solutions for implementing a feminist and postcolonial approach to digital security governance. While some chapters offer policy recommendations, others remain primarily descriptive, leaving readers with important questions about how to translate critical insights into actionable cybersecurity frameworks. However, the chapter on intersectionality in cybersecurity offers alternatives for addressing some of the vulnerabilities of diverse communities. Similarly, the discussion on community approaches also throws light on some of the grassroots solutions through the application of intervention models that can be replicated. The book argues that engagement with strategies for social action and digital sovereignty could contribute to policy evaluation and formulation. Despite its shortage of hands-on recommendations, the book is an important contribution to cybersecurity studies, particularly for feminists, social workers, and social work educators. It expands the discourse beyond state-centric security models and introduces critical voices that are often overlooked in mainstream cybersecurity literature. The book is particularly useful for scholars and practitioners interested in digital rights, feminist international relations, and decolonial studies, as well as policymakers seeking to develop more inclusive cybersecurity policies.
Cybersecurity, sovereignty, and digital resistance in the Global South is an essential read for those interested in the intersection of cybersecurity, human rights, and social justice. The book successfully foregrounds the need for a human security perspective in cybersecurity studies and challenges the dominance of Western-centric, state-focused narratives. By incorporating feminist and postcolonial critiques, this volume makes a compelling case for a more equitable and inclusive approach to digital security in the 21st century.
