Mr. Sanjay Pulipaka, Chairperson, Politeia Research Foundation, Hyderabad gave an expert lecture on Digital Technologies and Shifting Power Dynamics on 4 September. The seminar was organized under the Jean Monnet module on ‘Digital Democracy and Data Governance in the European Union’.

The speaker began by introducing the concepts of a state of anarchy and how states operate within a realm of anarchy. Since there is no supra-national organisation to impose order, sovereign states resort to self-help strategies. A key component of a self-help strategy is the persistent effort to enhance capabilities, encompassing military, economic, and technological domains.

The speaker noted that new digital technologies are accelerating the power-shift in global politics. Hence, in recent years, digital technologies have emerged as critical elements in the sovereign states’ quest to achieve comprehensive national power. The advent of digital technologies has made it relatively easy to influence the domestic politics of other countries. Consequently, the speaker established that the need to prevent external influence from impacting the domestic political/economic process has prompted many sovereign states to focus on digital sovereignty. The search for digital sovereignty has been a significant factor in the ongoing trade rivalries between major powers. Thus, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and the acquisition of related rare earth metals have emerged as crucial pillars for maintaining digital sovereignty. Sovereign states and regional organisations, such as the European Union, have articulated multiple approaches to achieve digital sovereignty, which include enhancing technological competence and building collaborative relationships. The presentation reflected on some of the above themes that intersect with geopolitics and the growth of digital technologies.

September 2025