The social contract theory meets cybersecurity: systematic literature review
Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance
ISSN: 2398-5038
Article publication date: 25 September 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of social contract theory (SCT) utilization in cybersecurity literature, elucidating the current state of research, identifying major applications and themes and highlighting gaps, particularly in empirical studies, and the integration of emerging technologies. The study also maps the contractual parties and governance tools discussed in SCT and cyberspace interactions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a systematic literature review to investigate the application of SCT within the cybersecurity domain. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative content analysis with the Grounded Theory strategy, over 30,000 documents were initially screened. The final data set comprised 873 peer-reviewed papers from multiple databases. MAXQDA software facilitated coding and thematic analysis to identify key SCT applications, governance tools and research gaps.
Findings
The review revealed the following: emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are sparsely researched within the SCT-cyberspace intersection, yet they offer solutions to various SCT-related issues; empirical studies are underrepresented, with theoretical explorations dominating the discourse; there is a notable gap in integrating emerging technologies such as AI within SCT frameworks; governance tools discussed are varied, including economic incentives, regulatory measures and informational strategies.
Originality/value
This study synthesizes SCT applications in cybersecurity, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature and potential for richer theoretical integration. By systematically mapping the literature, it identifies crucial gaps and offers a foundation for future empirical and theoretical research. The findings emphasize the importance of considering traditional SCT themes and contemporary technological contexts, contributing to the development of more robust frameworks for cyberspace governance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported by a Specific University Research Grant provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and was written at Masaryk University.
Data availability statement: The MAXQDA file containing all the data for this manuscript is available upon request as it contains full-text manuscripts protected by copyright.
Citation
Kleiner, J. (2024), "The social contract theory meets cybersecurity: systematic literature review", Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-06-2024-0118
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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