Feasibility Study and the Requirements for Generalizability of the Border Phenomenon to Cyberspace

Governments have recognized cyberspace, after the three domains of  their national territories,  as the fourth realm of their national sovereignty but some elements of nation-states including borders have not yet emerged in cyberspace. This study aims at examining the feasibility of generalizing the border phenomenon from real space to cyberspace and the necessity of this generalization, and providing a clear definition of cyber border. Then, the requirements for the realization of borders in cyberspace, including the methods of demarcation in this space and the feasibility of technical realization of cyber borders, are examined. In terms of its purpose, this study is an exploratory-descriptive research with qualitative data collected through library method and analyzed qualitatively. Findings show that not only is the existence of borders in cyberspace possible, but also due to the types of hard and soft threats in cyberspace, their necessity is double that of the real space. As a result of the remarkable developments of the cyberspace era, the real meaning and main functions of border have not changed while merely some methods of border demarcation and border guarding in information and communication technology have undergone some considerable changes. Accordingly, the borders of cyberspace like those of the real space have established the boundaries of the sovereignty of nation-states in digital space and, in accordance with certain rules, prevent the hard and soft threats of cyberspace.