Browsing by Author "Ulmer, Kathrin"

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    Cyber risks and cybersecurity : risk communication and regulation strategies in the United States and Germany
    (2021) Ulmer, Kathrin; Renn, Ortwin (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.)
    The dissertation explores and analyzes political communication and regulatory processes related to cyber risks and cybersecurity in the United States and Germany in the time period from 2007 to 2016 with a focus on cybersecurity-related risks for critical infrastructure. The dissertation follows a qualitative-interpretative research design based on Reiner Keller’s Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse (SKAD) that is innovatively adapted by integrating frames and regulatory styles. The study proceeds in three steps: First, a context mapping reveals the institutional roles and responsibilities of the executive branches in both countries in the young field of cybersecurity policy. Second, official cybersecurity discourses in both countries are analyzed in order to identify which frames the respective executive actors use in their communication. Two overarching frames are found for each country: For the United States, a homeland security frame and a technological leadership frame can be identified; for Germany, a security of supply frame as well as a moderation frame are found. Third, the study sheds light on regulation in the field of cybersecurity, understood as discourse effect. Therefore, one regulatory example is examined for each country in order to assess its consistency with the traditional regulatory style of the respective country. In the case of the United States, the Cybersecurity Framework following executive order 13636 is examined; for Germany, the IT Security Law is selected as regulatory example.