La cultura estratégica en el desarrollo de capacidades en ciberdefensa en Argentina y Colombia

Objective/context: Despite the urgency that cyber defense represents for all actors involved in international security dynamics, there has been little reflection on its scope and implications for peripheral states. Therefore, the objective of this article is to investigate how peripheral states develop cyber defense capabilities. Methodology: comparative and exploratory case study of Argentina (2013-2023) and Colombia (2011-2022). Conclusions: Argentina and Colombia developed technological capabilities in cyber defense in a similar way, because at key moments in the development of these public policies, the dominant strategic subculture chose cooperating with Western allied states for the purchase of cyber defense hardware and software, rather than fostering autochthonous developments. This choice favored the use and participation in similar learning mechanisms, such as the purchase of knowledge through Western suppliers and being part of spaces for the dissemination of information and good practices financed by the main powers in cyber defense. This decision later proved difficult to reverse, even in Argentina, where attempts were made to promote projects for the autonomous development of cyber defense technologies. Originality: A conceptual framework is proposed that adapts and extends the fourth generation of the concept of strategic culture for the study of defense capability development processes.