The Illusion of Sovereignty: How International Law and Big Tech Are Eroding State Power (warontherocks.com)

• States risk diplomatic sanctions for acting decisively below the threshold of armed attack.
• Loss of access to private digital infrastructure is catastrophic during wartime.
• Classical sovereignty is hollowed out by the need to request private capabilities.

"This article argues that state sovereignty faces a dual threat: international law penalizes decisive action below the threshold of armed attack, and states depend on private tech companies for critical digital infrastructure. Using the Ukraine war as a case study, it shows how states must now seek permission to use private capabilities for defense, fundamentally challenging classical sovereignty."