Infoimperialism and Security: Cyberattacks, Disinformation, and State Defense Strategies

This article examines the concept of infoimperialism—the transformation of information technologies into geopolitical instruments—within the context of cybersecurity and strategic information politics in global affairs. Using a methodological framework based on structural realism and constructivism, the study explores how both state and non-state actors leverage disinformation, digital diplomacy, and cyber operations to reshape global power dynamics. The novelty of the article lies in framing infoimperialism not merely as media control but as a form of soft power and technological hegemony in cyberspace. Findings suggest that institutions like USAID play a central role in managing global information flows, thereby influencing geopolitical competition. For countries like Azerbaijan, the article emphasizes the strategic necessity of building institutional and legal mechanisms for information security in an era of digitalized global rivalry.