Cyber sovereignty has emerged as a critical concept in global cyber governance, challenging the traditional free and borderless internet. China and Russia have played pivotal roles in promoting this norm at the United Nations. This research explores China and Russia’s coordinated efforts to promote cyber sovereignty within the UN, analysing how this alignment advances a state-centric model of digital governance. This research uses text-as-data analysis to trace the trajectory of proposals, negotiations, and approvals of UN Resolutions preferred by China and Russia, and try to explore their strategies and tactics to mobilise support for cyber sovereignty within the UN framework. This research contributes to the understanding of the norm promotion strategies of authoritarian powers like Russia and China, as well as the global shift toward a more state-centric, often autocratic model of digital governance.
