Cybersecurity has steadily risen to be a global political, economic, and social issue, finding its place among the most pervasive global concerns. How did this come to be? Presupposing no technical background, this course focuses on fundamental questions about the history, variety of actors, roles, and technologies underpinning today’s rapidly changing and global cyberspace. Societal scale vulnerabilities are becoming now apparent, prompting governments, multinational corporations, and civil society to promote cybersecurity norms and laws while cyber defense forces proliferate. Criminal cartels and state proxies, often early adopters of disruptive technologies, are exploiting weakness and exacerbating tensions between peoples and governments. Power is shifting as individuals and groups explore possibilities for circumventing controls and political systems. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition promise to further alter the present balance. This course will critically assess the cascading effects of current and emerging information and communications technologies and their impacts on international affairs. Early sessions will provide practical guidance on technical aspects of cyberspace and security. This course will be offered in a primarily online format with the possibility of some in-person sessions.