Cyberfare State and Digital Governance: Security, Control, and Resilience in the Digital Age

The rapid development of digital technologies is reshaping the functioning of the state, raising new questions about the relationship between governance, security, and societal organization. Cyberspace increasingly emerges as a complex domain in which public service delivery, data-driven decision-making, and security and control functions evolve in parallel and in mutual interaction.This Research Topic takes the concept of the Cyberfare State as a starting point to explore these developments. The framework suggests that the boundaries between welfare-oriented and security-driven state functions are becoming increasingly blurred, as these logics are intertwined within digitally mediated environments. Across different political and legal contexts, this interplay results in diverse institutional and regulatory arrangements, making comparative analysis particularly relevant in current global debates.The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for interdisciplinary research situated at the intersection of digital governance, cybersecurity, and societal resilience. Particular attention is given to national security dimensions, questions of digital sovereignty, and the balance between fundamental rights and security imperatives. Contributions addressing the societal implications of technological development are also encouraged, especially in relation to vulnerable groups, including children and women, and their digital safety.We welcome theoretical, empirical, and comparative contributions that advance understanding of the digital state and offer new perspectives on emerging global challenges. Submissions examining different national and regional approaches, as well as those proposing innovative conceptual or regulatory frameworks, are particularly encouraged. This Research Topic seeks to foster dialogue across disciplines and contribute to the evolving research agenda on digital governance and cybersecurity, addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Analysis of different state models and practices within the Cyberfare State framework• Digital governance and cybersecurity regulatory frameworks (EU, US, global)• National security and cyberspace: hybrid threats and state responses• Digital sovereignty and the fragmentation of the internet• New models of state–market–society cooperation• Digital child protection and women’s digital security in the context of digital governance and cybersecurity• Platform regulation, content moderation, and fundamental rights in the context of digital governance and state power• The role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and digital governance• Cyber resilience and societal resilience in the context of the digital state• Cyber warfare, information operations, and disinformation as components of digital state power and governance• Smart city systems and mechanisms of digital control• Security of critical infrastructures and supply chains in the context of governance and resilience Topic editors: Roland Kelemen, Dr Joseph Squillace Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79864/cyberfare-state-and-digital-governance-security-control-and-resilience-in-the-digital-age