Revolution in Military Affairs Jon Lindsay and Cyber Conflict
Dec 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, John Lindsay, an associate professor in cybersecurity and international affairs at Georgia Tech, explores his book 'Age of Deception.' He shares insights on the complexities of secret statecraft versus traditional warfare and how organized deception shapes modern conflicts. Lindsay examines historical examples, like Bletchley Park and Stuxnet, and delves into the implications of disinformation in political strategy. He also discusses China's cybersecurity approach and the future of AI in shaping these dynamics.
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Cyber As Secret Statecraft
- Cyber conflict is better described as "secret statecraft"—organized deception for strategic advantage.
- That frames cyber activity as intelligence, covert action, sabotage, and counterintelligence rather than pure warfare.
Intelligence Inverts Cooperative Systems
- Intelligence uses cooperative institutions to compete within them, which inverts their purpose.
- That tension explains why hybrid warfare and information operations often disappoint in practice.
Fourfold Typology Of Secret Craft
- Secret statecraft splits into espionage, sabotage, subversion, and counterintelligence along institutional and competition axes.
- This typology clarifies how operations range from covert spying to disruptive sabotage and defensive counterintelligence.