Relevance of norms in cyberspace

In my bachelor thesis I consider security in cyberspace and attempt to establish, whether theoretical approaches to the technological domain of nuclear weapons can merit the analysis of cyberspace. More specifically, I focus on the constructivist perspective and the theoretical framework of norm evolution that allows me to analyze the behavior of states based on their shared expectations and identity in international community. Norms, which form a standard of appropriate behavior, always evolve and thus I deal with their life-cycle. Further I inquire into the application of this theoretical framework in nuclear weapons and into two concepts that expand upon it: nuclear taboo and nuclear deviation. I present the relationship between these two concepts and the dominant approach of deterrence, their pros and cons, and their differences. I demonstrate the contribution of these concepts by applying them to historical cases of (non-)use of nuclear weapons. The part of my thesis devoted to cyberspace begins with a discussion of terminology and of the aspects that differentiate cyberspace from other domains. I follow this up by a study of previous practice of cyber attacks and by the analysis of norm emergence in three areas: arms control, (non-)use of cyber weapons, and normative deterrence. My method..