Examining norm formation efforts in cyber space which is a strategic area of uncertainty

Cyberspace in the post-Cold War period stands out as a strategic operational area which increasingly become a theatre of competition for diverse and increasing numbers of actors. While the limitless and dynamic nature of cyberspace offers various opportunities on the one hand; on the other hand, it causes the actors to face challenges through the uncertainties it creates. Within this framework, it is observed that actors at different levels work on creating norms within the scope of cyberspace, which is thought to be increasingly effective in the functioning of the international system in the upcoming period. Because, through norms, it is tried to clarify the uncertain structure of cyberspace from various angles and in this context to give a framework to the operations in cyberspace. In this thesis study, the efforts of the primary states, private companies, and organizations that came to the fore in cyberspace in the post-Cold War period were examined and it is aimed to shed light on Turkey's studies in this field. In the first chapter of this study, where the efforts to form norms in cyberspace, which is a strategic uncertainty area, are examined, the concepts of "cyberspace", "norm", and "cyber norm" have been defined and their scopes have been clarified. In the second chapter, the transformation in the international system after the Cold War is discussed in detail, the security environment expanding and deepening over the Copenhagen School is examined, and the Social Constructivism approach used in the analysis of cyber norms is comprehensively evaluated. Within the scope of the discussion of cyber governance, the elements that can be included in a governance network design were mentioned, the process of putting cyber norms into practice was expressed, and the applicability of multi-stakeholder governance and cyber sovereignty models was questioned. In the third chapter, the cyber sovereignty and multi-stakeholder governance models in the second chapter are discussed through the examples of the USA, China, Russia, and Turkey, and the policies developed by the states through these approaches are examined. The roles of Microsoft, Google, Siemens, and Nornickel, which are considered as norm entrepreneurs under the title of private companies, as other stakeholders playing an important role in cyberspace, as well as states, were addressed and the basic considerations they put forward were examined. Under the title of international organizations that play an important role in Internet governance, the studies of NATO, GCSC, and the UN were evaluated, and the principles discussed in these platforms were analyzed in a holistic framework. The fact that cyberspace is not subject to a geographical boundary, the difficulty of identifying attackers, and the lack of clarity about accountability cause actors to face a wide variety of vulnerabilities in this operational area on a scale from the state to the individual. It is expected that the cyber norms to be developed by the stakeholders of the process will be effective in overcoming this uncertain situation. In this context, it is seen that actors who desire to expand their position and influence in the international system in the context of the development of norms, which are provided with critical importance, have entered into the process of a strategic norm-construction. It is seen that the actors who desire to shape the international system try to develop norms based on the principles they have adopted and transform them into behavioral patterns through practices. In the field where cyber norms, which are strategically constructed in cyberspace, have become a competitive element, it is seen that the strategic norm construction process is the scene of various struggles between states and other stakeholders such as states and private companies. In this context, the process of shaping the norms in cyberspace; represents a multi-faceted process that includes the power struggles of states within the framework of their national considerations, the efforts of the private sector to develop their movement area with the role of norm entrepreneurship, and the discourses developed by international organizations in line with their own corporate principles and goals.