Editorial | Open Access
Geopolitics and Transnational Data Governance
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Abstract: This editorial introduces a thematic issue that examines the geopolitics of transnational data governance through interdisciplinary perspectives. It explores how data governance—once a technocratic concern—has become a core domain of geopolitical rivalry and statecraft. Contributions in this issue highlight the tensions between data sovereignty and transnational flows, great power rivalry in transnational data governance, the growing importance of informal and plurilateral governance, and the strategic agency of Global South actors. The issue also foregrounds the critical but often overlooked roles of private sector actors and sector-specific governance in domains such as energy, semiconductors, and development aid. By analysing contested norms, competing governance models, and hybrid institutional arrangements, the articles collectively show how transnational data governance reflects and shapes broader geopolitical dynamics.
Keywords: data governance; geopolitics; normative contestation; power rivalry; technology
Published:
© Xinchuchu Gao, Xuechen Chen. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction of the work without further permission provided the original author(s) and source are credited.