7. Presence—Sovereign Identity in the Digital Sphere

This chapter examines the transformation of sovereignty in the digital age, emphasizing the strategic importance of digital presence as a core component of national power. In the technopolar world, sovereignty is no longer confined to territorial borders but redefined through infrastructural capability, data governance, and normative influence. The chapter identifies four interrelated pillars of digital presence: infrastructure sovereignty, digital identity governance, value-based regulation, and normative-cultural projection. Infrastructure sovereignty, exemplified by sovereign cloud initiatives and secure data ecosystems, is vital for mitigating technological dependencies. Secure digital identity frameworks extend legal authority into cyberspace, while values-driven regulation shapes national digital ecosystems in line with public interest and democratic oversight. Cultural and normative assertion, through participation in global digital standard-setting, enables states to project identity and influence in the digital domain. The chapter highlights global trends, including the rise of sovereign cloud strategies in the EU, China’s cyber-sovereignty model, and diverging regulatory philosophies across geopolitical blocs. Ultimately, it argues that digital sovereignty is not a retreat from globalization but a strategic condition for equitable participation in global governance. Asserting digital presence is now a prerequisite for political agency, economic resilience, and normative leadership in an increasingly fragmented and contested international digital order.