Minding the gap? The strategic logic of cyber coercion in theory and practice

Academic research has coalesced around the proposition that there are significant impediments to cyber coercion. Yet, many practitioners in the United States continue to espouse beliefs grounded in its efficacy. Why does the U.S. continue to rely on cyberspace for coercion, despite limited evidence of its effectiveness? What are the implications for the study and practice of cyber coercion? This article categorizes the evolution and consequences of this scholar-practitioner gap through a comparative review of the academic literature and policy debates within the United States. It assesses the implications for theory and policy, and provides recommendations for bridging the gap.