Ripeness Theory in the Digital Age

What is it about?

When are cyber conflicts ripe for negotiation? Analysis of cyber conflict presents a challenge to the prevailing negotiation concept, Zartman’s ripeness theory. Ripeness theory posits that the timing of a negotiation stems from the conflicting parties’ perception of a “mutually hurting stalemate” (MHS) and “a way out” of conflict through dialogue. While this theory has shown merit for negotiations related to conventional warfare or economic disputes, there are gaps in its applicability for resolving cyber conflict. Specifically, the concept of a “hurting stalemate” has little to no presence in cyber disputes, rendering MHS incompatible with pure cyber negotiations. As such, redefining mutually hurting stalemate for cyber conflict is paramount to address this discrepancy. Examining the 2015 bilateral US-China Cybersecurity Agreement provides a context for applying our hypothesis and demonstrates how accepted negotiation theory may be applied to cyber conflict.

Featured Image

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This analysis attempts to adapt the conflict management theory of ripeness to cyber conflict. Cyber conflict does not possess the same characteristics as conventional warfare, especially with regard to escalation management, thus presenting a barrier for applying standard ripeness theory in determining the timing of negotiation. This research suggests that an adaptation of ripeness theory to include the notion of a "mutually harming standoff" is necessary to adjust actors' approaches to negotiation and mediation in cyber conflict.