From Iron Curtains to Digital Frontiers: Geopolitical Transformations in Central and Eastern Europe amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Abstract

This paper focuses on the geopolitical perspectives regarding the spread of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) in Central and Eastern European countries in the years to come. This research paper aims to explore the geopolitical dimensions that are unfolding at the “periphery of Europe” in the context of new technological advancements which are prone to radically change the economic landscape of Europe. Central and Eastern European countries possess unique economic traits making the region worth researching, especially given the disruptive capacities of technological innovation and the eventual proliferation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In light of the war in nearby Ukraine, regional security, cooperation and economic development, represented by organizations such as the EU, NATO, or the Three Seas Initiative, are prone to influence the technological areas as well, with the proliferation of Industry 4.0 representing a central element in the debate alongside changes in terms of geopolitical thinking.