- Applications open
The Geopolitics of Digital Infrastructure
The Geopolitics of Digital Infrastructure course offers a live, 8-week introduction to digital infrastructure, the backbone of today’s international economy. Building on the success of our Foundations of Cybersecurity and AI course, this course is taught by leading scholars from Europe and North America.
Introduction
After an opening session that maps the field, the course zooms in on specific types of digital infrastructure (cloud, subsea cables, space, semiconductors), before zooming out during the final sessions to reflect on questions of ownership and governance.
This course links two goals: First, to better understand the technologies at stake and the use cases they enable. Second, to work through their geopolitical dimensions.
Digital infrastructure governance remains heavily fragmented across national, regional, and multilateral levels. And, its ownership is split between public authorities and a handful of increasingly powerful corporate actors. Digital infrastructure is weaponized – used to project power and to protect strategic interests – making it a geopolitical priority.
Course Overview
Each two-hour live session combines lectures with moderated discussions. Students can ask questions and interact directly with expert lecturers, with half of each session dedicated to dialogue.
A syllabus with 2-3 key readings (and additional recommended readings) for each session will be circulated to all participants prior to the first session on 14 October 2026. Attendance and active participation are expected throughout.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the main types of digital infrastructure and the specific technologies involved.
- Identify chokepoints where technical architecture translates into political leverage.
- Analyse tensions between (digital) sovereignty and multi-stakeholder cooperation.
- Evaluate national, EU, and UN (policy) responses to asymmetrical interdependencies.
Lecturers
Christian Bueger
Dorthea Gradek
Tobias Liebetrau
Course Schedule
- What is (digital) infrastructure?
Week 2 | October 21
- What is cloud computing, and what is its relevance for geopolitics?
Week 3 | October 28
- What are semiconductors and why do they matter for geopolitics?
Week 4 | November 4
- What are undersea cables and how do they matter for geopolitics?
Week 5 | November 11
- What is outer space infrastructure, and what is its relevance for geopolitics?
Week 6 | November 18
- What is the role of states in digital infrastructure governance?
Week 7 | November 25
- What is the role of the private sector in digital infrastructure governance?
Week 8 | December 2
- What is the role of IGOs in digital infrastructure governance?
Time Commitment and Certificate
- The course runs for 8 weeks, with 2 hours of live lectures each week and approximately 6 hours of preparation. Sessions are not recorded - attendance and participation are required.
- As part of the assessment, students either record a thematic 3-4 min 'explainer' video or write a 2.000 word essay reflecting on one of the key topics discussed during the course.
- Students who successfully complete the requirements will receive an official Certificate of Completion from Virtual Routes.
Application and Selection
The Geopolitics of Digital Infrastructure course is selective and open to a limited number of students.
Eligibility
- Open to graduate students, and in exceptional cases, 2nd and 3rd year bachelor’s students with an outstanding academic record.
- Students from all disciplines are welcome
- No prior technical experience is required.
Application materials
- An undergraduate grade list (and graduate transcript if available)
- A CV
- A short questionnaire (provided via the application link)
Course fee
- €299 for accepted participants.
- Free of charge for students currently enrolled at a Dutch university. This is made possible through support from Google.org for the expansion of the Cybersecurity Seminars to the Netherlands.
Timeline
- Submissions will be reviewed, and successful applicants will be notified on a rolling basis. The final deadline to apply is Sunday, September 27, 2026.
