Digital Sovereignty

Abstract

Over the last years, “digital sovereignty” has become a key concept in political debates about the digital transformation. In authoritarian and semi-authoritarian countries such as China and Russia, governments have long striven for more sovereignty in the digital sphere. Yet since the Snowden revelations in 2013, democratic governments and regional institutions such as the European Commission have also started to call for strengthening the digital sovereignty of their countries, economies and citizens. As a consequence, the term “digital sovereignty” involves different interpretations and associations. The research project on the discourse of digital sovereignty seeks to explore the historical significance of the concept of sovereignty in relation to the digital sphere, the various manifestations of the discourse, and the actual policy practices and measures associated with it.

Contact: Dr. Julia Pohle

Main content

Selected Publications

Wzbaktiv
Pohle, Julia (2021): "Digitale Souveränität. Das Ringen um Handlungs- und Entscheidungsfreiheit im Netz". In: WZB-Mitteilungen, H. 171, S. 6-8.
Pohle, Julia (2020): "Digitale Souveränität". In: Tanja Klenk/Frank Nullmeier/Göttrik Wewer (Hg.): Handbuch Digitalisierung in Staat und Verwaltung. Living Reference Work. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, S. 1-13 (online publiziert 13.02.2020).
Pohle, Julia/Thiel, Thorsten (2019): "Digitale Vernetzung und Souveränität. Genealogie eines Spannungsverhältnisses". In: Isabelle Borucki/Wolf Jürgen Schünemann (Hg.): Internet und Staat. Perspektiven auf eine komplizierte Beziehung. Staatsverständnisse, Nr. 127. Baden Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, S. 57-80.
Pohle, Julia/Van Audenhove, Leo (2017): "Post-Snowden Internet Policy. Between Public Outrage, Resistance and Policy Change - Editorial". In: Media and Communication - Open Access Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, Special Issue "Post-Snowden Internet Policy", edited by Julia Pohle/Leo Van Audenhove. Lisbon: Cogitatio Press, S. 1-6.