RETHINKING EUROPEAN CYBERSECURITY INTEGRATION THROUGH LIBERAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL POLITICS IN GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION ENFORCEMENT STUDY

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Published: 2025-12-11
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46281/bjmsr.v11i1.2638
Keywords:
Cybersecurity, Data Protection, Liberal Intergovernmentalism, France, Germany, Supranationalism

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I Nyoman Aji Suadhana Rai
Research Scholar, International Relations Department, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2063-4276
Dudy Heryadi
Professor, International Relations Department, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5893-1815
Yanyan Mochamad Yani
Professor, International Relations Department, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9549-6683
Asep Kamaluddin Nashir
Assistant Professor, International Relations Department, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5498-5429

Abstract

The phenomenon of cyberattacks and data breaches in the EU has led to the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. However, this regulation could turn the supranational institution into a sovereign-based decision-making body and shift people's behavior toward enforcing data protection rules. This study investigates how the European Union implemented its strategy to enforce cybersecurity mechanisms between its member states through data protection regulations. This study employs a qualitative case study approach and collects data from 285 enforcement reports, five binding reports from the EDPB, and two unstructured interviews. We used reflexive thematic analysis to obtain the meaning of each report and each interview. The results reveal that supervisory authorities exercise power and create national and regional preferences that follow individuals and companies in the enforcement of data protection mechanisms in the EU. The study finds that Germany and France share the power to require multinational companies and public entities to comply with data protection rules across the EU. According to the thematic analysis, three themes emerge from the data collected in France and Germany: harmonization of Data Protection and cybersecurity, blending of enforcement, balancing Sovereignty and integration, and protecting national values through EU mechanisms. It shows that the EU’s cybersecurity strategy aligns with the principles of Liberal Intergovernmentalism, in which each member state negotiates its preferences through the EDPB and between member states, rather than with the principles of functionalism, in which institutions cooperate voluntarily through spillover mechanisms.


JEL Classification Codes: F52, F51, K24.

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Article Details

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Continuous Publication

Section

Research Paper/Theoretical Paper/Review Paper/Short Communication Paper
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

I Nyoman Aji Suadhana Rai , Research Scholar, International Relations Department, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia

I Nyoman Aji Suadhana Rai is a Doctoral Candidate in International Relations at Padjadjaran University, and an Assistant Professor of International Relations at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta. He is an accomplished academic specializing in non-traditional security, International Politics, and Russian Language studies. Mr Rai has published numerous articles and papers in his field, contributing significantly to the academic community, including in the defense and security sector. His research interests include data security and contemporary security issues.

Dudy Heryadi , Professor, International Relations Department, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia

R. Dudy Heryadi is a Professor of International Relations at Universitas Padjadjaran and UPN Veteran Jakarta. His research interests encompass international cooperation, international organizations, and international relations. Dr. Heryadi has contributed extensively to the field, with notable publications addressing topics such as the role of higher education in improving education quality in Indonesia, environmental NGO strategies in Jakarta, and the cooperation between UNHCR and Indonesia in handling Afghan refugees. His work also explores Indonesia’s foreign policy, particularly in providing aid to Rohingya refugees and participating in peacebuilding processes in Afghanistan. Dr. Heryadi’s research and teaching efforts continue to impact the academic and policymaking communities in Indonesia and internationally.

Yanyan Mochamad Yani , Professor, International Relations Department, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia

Yanyan Mochamad Yani  is a Professor of International Relations at Padjadjaran University. He holds a distinguished academic background with a research focus on Strategic Studies, Foreign Policy, Terrorism, ASEAN, and the Asia Pacific region. Dr. Yani has an h-index of 12, reflecting his significant contributions to the field through numerous publications and citations. His notable works include studies on cybersecurity policy, the geopolitical role of Indonesia, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Southeast Asian economies. Dr. Yani is also recognized for his influential book on International Relations and Security Studies.

Asep Kamaluddin Nashir , Assistant Professor, International Relations Department, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia

Asep Kamaluddin Nashir  is Assistant Professor of International Relations at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta. His research interest encompasses foreign policy analysis, diplomacy and negotiation, Middle Eastern studies, Islamic politics and comparative politics. Dr. Nashir has been actively engaged in research and community service initiatives related to his areas of specialization including Head of the International Relations Department until 2018, Vice Dean 3of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UPNVJ, and Expert Staff Member at the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) from 2008 to 2019.

How to Cite

Rai , I. N. A. S. ., Heryadi , D. ., Yani , Y. M. ., & Nashir , A. K. . (2025). RETHINKING EUROPEAN CYBERSECURITY INTEGRATION THROUGH LIBERAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL POLITICS IN GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION ENFORCEMENT STUDY. Bangladesh Journal of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research, 11(1), 23-34. https://doi.org/10.46281/bjmsr.v11i1.2638
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