Balance of Power Competition Reimagined in the Digital Age: An Analysis of U.S. Security Sector Assistance Across the African Sahel

Abstract

The first two decades of the twenty-first century witnessed a paradigm shift in the international system. It confirmed the rise of a new balance of power, in which the great powers are competing for influence across the globe. The African Sahel region has emerged as an epicenter of this competition. The recent digital technological revolution has introduced new tools of warfare into this reality. These tools have enabled Russia and China to challenge and weaken Western dominance. This research demonstrates how digital media technologies have emerged as primary tools of information warfare in the emerging balance of power. The goal of this study is twofold. First, it will explore public perceptions of U.S. security assistance in the African Sahel and identify ongoing information warfare operations targeting the U.S. presence in the region. Second, it will propose a reformulated security cooperation framework for the U.S. to adopt across the region to enhance legitimacy and remain competitive with Russian and Chinese influence.

Disciplines

International Relations | Political Science

Subject Area

International relations; Web studies; Political science; Military studies

Department

International Relations (INR)

First Advisor

Giannakos, Symeon

Second Advisor

Ilunga, Yvan

Third Advisor

MacFarlane, Stephen N.

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

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