Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Regional Security Governance: Rethinking Security Cooperation in the Era of New Regionalism

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between cyber threats, artificial intelligence (AI), and regional security cooperation in the contemporary international system. The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure and increasing reliance on cyberspace have transformed cyber threats from isolated criminal incidents into tools of strategic competition among states. The research examines whether AI-enhanced cyber threats are encouraging states to develop new forms of regional collective security mechanisms.

The study argues that the transnational nature of cyber threats limits the effectiveness of purely national responses, creating stronger incentives for regional cooperation. Drawing on perspectives from International Security Studies and the literature on new regionalism, the research connects technological change with evolving forms of regional security governance. It integrates insights from cybersecurity studies, complex interdependence, and regional cooperation theory to explain emerging patterns of coordination among states.

Using an analytical approach based on academic literature, policy reports, and international cybersecurity assessments, the study shows that AI strengthens defensive cyber capacities while also enabling more sophisticated offensive operations, increasing uncertainty in cyberspace. The findings suggest that regional coordination is becoming a practical necessity for managing shared digital risks and sustaining stability in an increasingly interconnected security environment.