COVID-19 and the New Normal: Digitalization and Automation of the Global Security Sector

Abstract

Aside from the enormous loss of human lives, economic downturn, poverty and human insecurity effects of COVID-19 Pandemic, it has brought about indelible reality and lingering impacts in the sphere of International security sector. The paradigm shift in international security system from over seven decades of multilateral cooperation to global nationalism and its profound consequences in terms of: cybercrimes escalation; world powers rivalries; autocratic backsliding and increased authoritarianism; the crumbling of international institutions and aids for COVID-19; and weakened international cooperation system have been well acknowledged by scholars. These developments no doubt constitute the concept of the ‘New Normal’ in the global security space. However, the aspect of increased digitalization and automation of security operational processes across the globe represents new opportunities brought by COVID-19 Pandemic which have not received adequate attention from scholars. In fact, their reverberating consequences in the socio-economic and political spheres of both the developed and developing countries constitute matter of continuous debate in the international security discourse. Hence, this paper by adopting descriptive approach intends to identify key developments and trends in the digitalization and automation processes of global security space amid COVID-19. This will enable the researcher to explore both its areas of threats and opportunities for the advancement and sustainability of the global security sector.