ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the theoretical framework that guides the rest of the book. It is divided into three sections and a conclusion. The first section discusses the levels of analysis and situates cyber capabilities as a foreign policy instrument of states. The second explores the explanatory power of neoclassical realism by drawing out relevant themes and distinguishing the theory from alternative paradigms used to explain cyber phenomena. The third section presents the operationalization of the framework, particularly the variables, measurements, and limitations. The last section summarises the key points of the chapter.
