The Geopolitical Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Global Security and International Relations: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Geopolitics, Global Security, International Relations, AI Governance, Cybersecurity, Strategic Competition, Thematic AnalysisAbstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a game-changer in the field of geopolitics, influencing global security, strategic competition, and international relations. Although there is a significant body of research on AI, most existing research has focused on specific applications of AI in military, cybersecurity, governance, or diplomatic contexts. To fill this gap, this study is an integrated qualitative synthesis of the geopolitical implications of AI. In particular, it explores the impact of AI on global security, its implications for international relations, the key themes of the current literature and the governance and policy issues arising from the responsible use of AI. The qualitative secondary research design was used and eleven scholarly studies were purposively selected and analysed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. The results identified interrelated themes, which include: (1) AI and military transformation, cybersecurity, and global security; (2) geopolitical competition, diplomacy, and global governance; (3) cross-cutting thematic synthesis of the literature; and (4) governance, ethics, regulation, and international cooperation. The analysis highlighted the fact that AI is fundamentally reshaping military capabilities and operations, cybersecurity, and global security, and also revealed a deep divide among the countries in the international governance of AI and its geopolitical implications. The study provides novel insights and theoretical and policy implications for the development of global governance of AI and future research on AI geopolitical transition by summarizing and integrating the scattered evidence into an analytical framework, as well as highlighting the key research gaps.
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