Beyond technology: the US-led order and allied support for US international digital leadership

Abstract

Amid intensifying great-power competition, the United States is actively mobilizing its major allies to assert international digital leadership. However, the outcomes of these efforts have varied. By examining the dependence of major allies on the United States, we argue that their support is primarily motivated by a desire to secure a favorable US-led order that ensures their survival and identity. Major allies are more inclined to cooperate with the US to counter the rivals’ digital technology advancement when they perceive these rivals as threats to the existing order. Such cooperation is seen as crucial to preventing competition from destabilizing the US-led order. Furthermore, major allies tend to align with US initiatives for international digital norms when these efforts also help them address their challenges in the digital age. This strategic alignment enables them to shape a more favorable US-led order while potentially reducing their long-term dependence on the United States. These findings offer a new theoretical perspective on international leadership and hierarchy in the digital era.