The Impact of 21st-Century Emerging Technologies on the Shift of Power in the International System
Keywords:
Power, Power Displacement, Emerging Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of ThingsAbstract
Various discussions have been presented regarding the diffusion and displacement of power in international relations, and some predict that this phenomenon will occur in the near future. Among these discussions, emerging technologies, which expanded globally in the 21st century, have accelerated institutional transformations, increased international interactions, and altered core concepts of international relations, including the concept of power. These technologies, by transforming the previous hierarchical order, have had a profound impact on the displacement and diffusion of power in the field of international politics. The purpose of the present study is to examine the impact of 21st-century emerging technologies on the displacement of power in the international arena. Accordingly, the main research question is: What impacts can emerging technologies of the 21st century have on the displacement of power in the international system? The central hypothesis posits that emerging technologies in the 21st century, through information and communication tools, artificial intelligence, robotics knowledge, and fifth-generation internet (5G), by altering the sources and instruments of power, not only contribute to the diffusion of power but also to its displacement, particularly from the United States and the West toward China and Asia. The research method employed in this study is descriptive-analytical, and data collection has been conducted through library resources. The findings of the research indicate that due to the development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), the field of international politics has undergone changes, leading to a transformation and increased complexity in the perception of power and the mechanisms of its exercise. This transformation has resulted in the diffusion and displacement of power at the level of international relations. Among these technologies, "artificial intelligence" constitutes one of the new areas of 21st-century emerging technologies, playing a significant role in the displacement and diffusion of power in international relations.
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