The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
Technology governance
English Summary
Chatham House argues that technology governance has expanded from a narrow cyber focus into a broad policy domain because the internet now underpins government, private-sector, and civil-society activity. It notes that while debate is often framed as national security versus personal privacy, a more significant challenge is the market dominance of US technology firms combined with weak and inconsistent regulation. The analysis implies that existing governance approaches are poorly matched to transnational platform power and produce legal uncertainty across jurisdictions. Strategically, policymakers should pursue more coordinated cross-border rules and stronger accountability and competition frameworks for dominant tech companies.
中文摘要
研究所認為，科技治理已從狹義的網路領域擴展為更廣泛的政策範疇，因為網際網路如今已成為政府、私部門與公民社會運作的基礎。報告指出，雖然相關辯論常被框架為國家安全與個人隱私之爭，但更重要的挑戰在於美國科技企業的市場支配地位，以及監管體系的薄弱與不一致。該分析意涵顯示，現行治理模式與跨國平台權力並不相稱，並在各司法管轄區造成法律不確定性。就策略而言，政策制定者應推動更協調的跨境規則，並針對主導型科技企業建立更強的問責與競爭制度框架。
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