Geopolitics in the digital age

The intensifying technological competition between the United States and China is reshaping global power dynamics, deepening the digital divide, and complicating efforts to address shared global challenges. Adopting a neoclassical geopolitics approach -recognizing the interplay of material capabilit...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Soriano, Juan Pablo|||0000-0003-4792-0042
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:310822
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/310822
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.7238/idp.v0i43.428663
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:United States
China
Geopolitical narratives
Discursive strategies
Artificial intelligence
Neoclassical geopolitics
Estados Unidos
Narrativas geopolíticas
Estrategias discursivas
Inteligencia artificial
Geopolítica neoclásica
Descripción
Sumario:The intensifying technological competition between the United States and China is reshaping global power dynamics, deepening the digital divide, and complicating efforts to address shared global challenges. Adopting a neoclassical geopolitics approach -recognizing the interplay of material capabilities and ideational factors -, this article examines how geopolitical narratives regarding digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), reflect and shape this competition. It proposes three heuristic "geopolitical narratives" grounded in international relations theories: a "closed world" narrative (realism), emphasizing security and sovereignty; an "open world" narrative (liberalism), focusing on cooperation and multilateral governance; and a "world of injustices" narrative (critical theories), highlighting global inequalities and digital divides. Through a qualitative content analysis of political speeches by Joe Biden and Xi Jinping (2018-2023), the study reveals how these leaders strategically deploy narratives to justify policies, promote interests, and influence global AI discourses. The findings underscore the bidirectional nature of narratives, which both reflect and shape strategic objectives and policy decisions. This article contributes to understanding how narratives influence global AI governance, highlighting their role in shaping international alliances and technological norms amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.