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Technological advances and sovereign states

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The rise of technology has had a critical impact on state sovereignty. Sir David Popper, former Director of the United Kingdom's Government Communications noted that, "[Every] country has to recognize that it cannot deal with [cybersecurity] alone and in isolation" Technological advances present new challenges and opportunities to sovereign states.

1. What are the greatest opportunities and challenges that technological advances present sovereign states?

2.How have increases in technology impacted state-to-state relations?

3. Do technological advances ultimately support or undermine state sovereignty?

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This posting explains how technological advances affects sovereign states and their sovereignty.

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1. The greatest opportunities that technological advances present the sovereign states include better security for their citizens, improved trade and commerce, and better communications. There are several ways in which a sovereign state has been able to improve its security. The latest technology in military equipment helps protect nations better. The latest radar systems can perceive enemy activity, the latest fighter aircraft can pinpoint targets, and the technologically advanced submarines can launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. The sovereign states are blessed by new military technology because it has a high deterrent effect and helps avoid wars and bloodshed. Even in the case of internal security, the use of close circuit television cameras helps sovereign state prevents incidents and reduces crime (a). From this perspective, technological advances help sovereign states avoid harmful crime and focus on developmental activities.

Apart from improving security, great opportunities are presented to the sovereign state by technological advances in the field of trade and commerce. Because of technological advances, countries can specialize more and increase their income from trade. In this context, technological advances have made it possible for countries to have trace and commerce with almost any country in the world. Moreover, technological advances have made it possible to provide products and services of a very high standard. The sovereign states have the opportunity of exporting goods and services to any part of the world. In addition, the sovereign states also have the opportunity of importing any product or service because of international trade and commerce.

The third opportunity some of the greatest opportunities presented to countries because of technological advances are those that are related to communication. On one side sovereign states gain because of improved efficiency in the workplace, getting a competitive advantage over other sovereign states, and gaining economic efficiencies. There are specific fields in which sovereign states get opportunities from technological advances. The sovereign states have opportunities in the field of business where advances in information technology help businesses grow beyond the boundaries of the country and become multinational companies. sovereign states gain from the growth of business because these firms spread all over the world, develop a reputation for their products/ services, and repatriate the profits they have earned. Some examples of multinational companies are Ford Motor Company, Coca Cola Company, and Microsoft. The sovereign states also have excellent opportunities for education because of advances in information technology. On one side technology enables the teachers to be up to date and at the same time it provides superior education to students through the use of computer technology/ mobile technology.

Even if the country's resources are not adequate for providing higher education to everyone, information technology can help students who are dropouts or cannot afford campus-based education to get the same education and degrees through online education. Countries also have opportunities in the field of ...

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