Abstract

The Trump administration authorized an assertive cyber strategy of persistent engagement and defending forward. Less a radical break than an evolution, it reflected the impact of bureaucratic politics, emerging theories about cyber competition and arguments about improving the Obama-era strategy. This article employs recent research into “madman tactics” to reject claims that “Madman Theory” improves understanding of persistent engagement. The new strategy was a coherent, albeit bold, response to the operating environment. Under Trump it was undermined by political contingencies. Pursued prudently under Biden, it could yet achieve its objectives: preserving US superiority, promoting stability and security in cyberspace.

摘要

特朗普政府授权了一项坚定的网络战略，即持续参与和向前防御。与其说是彻底的突破，不如说是演变，它反映了官僚政治的影响、关于网络竞争的新兴理论以及关于改进奥巴马时代战略的争论。本文采用最近对“疯子策略”的研究来拒绝声称“疯子理论”提高了对持续参与的理解的说法。新战略是对运营环境的连贯但大胆的回应。在特朗普的领导下，它受到政治突发事件的破坏。在拜登的领导下谨慎行事，它仍然可以实现其目标：维护美国的优势，促进网络空间的稳定与安全。