This article addresses the current emphasis on confidence building measures (CBMs) as a tool to mitigate the risk of conflict stemming from information communications technologies (ICT). It discusses the origins of CBMs and the reasons for their gradual uptake during and after the Cold War. As ICT too, became a source of contention in inter-state relations, CBMs came to be viewed as an important enabler of international stability, alongside norms of behaviour and existing international law. Focusing specifically on the work of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), this article discusses how CBMs are defined and applied to conflict involving ICT. Building on four core assumptions, the article assesses whether the current environment is conducive to realising the potential of CBMs in enhancing stability in cyberspace.
European Foreign Affairs Review