Digital sovereignty from above and below: A study on how the EU understands digital sovereignty
2026 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
This thesis utilizes Fratini et. al.’s framework and qualitative content analysis in order to investigate how the European Union (EU) understands digital sovereignty. Digital sovereignty is an interesting concept, as it is typically associated with the state's role and responsibilities, something the EU has been cautious about in both policy and language. When the EU speaks of digital and technology matters, the concept of digital sovereignty is acceptable to use. Which of course raises the question of what the EU means with the concept. This is further complicated by the case of EuroStack, an industry-led initiative for EU investment into the EU tech industry to strengthen EU digital sovereignty. Private companies are using the terms of EU and European digital sovereignty in their petition for increased funding and increased usage of European tech companies. This is however in conflict with the traditional idea of sovereignty, polities retaining dependence on private companies do not achieve domestic primacy or a monopoly of violence. EuroStack thus represents a novel case in a rich scientific tradition of sovereignty and EU integration. The content analysis in this thesis which studied digital sovereignty in relevant documents, as well as the EU state of the union-speech (SOTU), showed a prevailing reluctance in using sovereignty even in this more accepted arena and that digital sovereignty is perceived in a state-based way as part of a securitized context. Allowing for the conclusion that, at least in this case, digital sovereignty is understood by the EU as a responsibility for the EU belonging to the security arena, strengthening EU statehood aspirations, as well as a leitmotif for EU expansion and cementing dependence on domestic companies who are expected to project EU values.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 47
Keywords [en]
Digital sovereignty, sovereignty, EU, identity
Keywords [sv]
Digital suveränitet, suveränitet, EU, identitet
National Category
Political Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-14946OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-14946DiVA, id: diva2:2075637
Subject / course
Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security
Educational program
Master's programme in Politics, Security and Crisis
Uppsok
Social and Behavioural Science, Law
Examiners
2026-06-252026-06-182026-06-25Bibliographically approved