INTRODUCTION:

Communicating is not a new thing for humans. It is a need that goes far back in history. For one reason or another, humans have always felt the necessity to connect with their peers. To do this, they have never lacked ideas, and their inventions have been ingenious. This is how smoke signals rose in the skies of the Americas. Similarly, drums resonated deep in the tropical forests of Africa. This is also why roads became highways or railways. The examples are numerous, and one cannot claim to provide an exhaustive list.

However, one can always mention the most well-known examples, such as the telephone, radio, television, and satellite, not forgetting the latest addition: the Internet (International Network).

To better understand the very nature of the Internet, it is undoubtedly essential to briefly look back at its history.

Indeed, in the 1960s, the U.S. Department of Defense initiated studies on the reliability of communication networks in the event of armed conflict. The most famous and alarming report, delivered by the RAND Corporation, particularly mentioned the excessive centralization of existing infrastructure and the lack of autonomy of intermediate nodes in the event of one being interrupted. The failure of a secondary site could jeopardize the entire system's operation.

All communication systems in the United States posed a maximum risk of failure in the event of a nuclear attack, even a limited one.

At the same time, the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA), another arm of the Department of Defense responsible for coordinating military research activities, was considering setting up a computer communication network to allow university researchers and defense contractors to exchange information and coordinate their activities. It is important to remember that this was during the Cold War, where the primary military stakes were space and nuclear weapons, two activities closely linking industrial work and fundamental research. Moreover, this context brought to the forefront the risk of nuclear threats, especially the possibility of all defense-related communications being destroyed in one go. ARPA, therefore, entrusted researchers themselves, rather than traditional communication operators, with the task of developing an experimental network that would meet both their needs and the concerns identified by the RAND report.

The ARPANET network was particularly designed to use proven technologies available on the market and not critically depend on any control center. Additionally, it was to be designed so that operating costs would be shared among operators while offering broad possibilities for expansion and growth.

Starting in 1969, ARPANET was implemented, and it grew rapidly until around 1980. Most American universities and research centers were involved, and some say that many sites signed contracts with the Department of Defense solely for this purpose! However, not all organizations had access to the network (not everyone could participate in military activities), and even the Department of Defense itself became concerned about its lack of control over the system. This concern led to the creation of the military network MILNET, thus easing ARPANET of its military activities and allowing more flexibility in its management. The interconnection possibilities between these two networks were defined under the acronym DARPA Internet ("D" for Defense, which was quickly shortened to Internet).

Almost unknown to the general public just six years ago, the Internet has become a global social phenomenon that inspires both enthusiasm and controversy. This is normal and often happens when a technological innovation bursts onto the scene with a fashionable effect.

Although the origins of this network date back to the late 1960s, its massive development is much more recent. It only took its current form in 1990. However, its usage remained marginal until its explosion in 1992, the year the "World Wide Web" was implemented, a global web network.

Thanks to this significant achievement, the number of computers connected worldwide doubles every year, and the number of websites triples every three months. In the early 2000s, it was estimated that 300 million people were Internet users. The time spent in front of a computer screen is three times greater than that spent watching television, especially in developed countries. The number of people subscribing increases daily, even in developing countries. This is explained by the increasing ease of access provided to encourage people to connect. Just last February, the Egyptian government and the private sector, in collaboration with the UNDP, inaugurated three community access centers to information technologies in Egypt. The goal is to allow the poor population to connect to the Internet. This initiative is the first in a series that the UNDP plans to extend to other countries.

Today, the rush towards the Internet is undeniable. This magical tool attracts a wide audience from all corners of the world. No country remains indifferent, and none wants to lag behind regarding this very promising new technology.

With such eagerness, one wonders if the Internet can be considered a strategic factor.

The Internet is a strategic factor because it introduces a new range of coveted services aimed at promoting political action through greater democracy, giving armies a new way to fight, and, above all, providing businesses with a powerful tool to ensure economic growth.

Examining the usefulness of the Internet in political action first, highlighting its contribution to military operations second, and finally demonstrating its benefits for businesses will confirm this.

I. The Internet in the Service of Political Action

When used for political purposes, the Internet offers the state an opportunity to involve its citizens in the democratic process, as well as allowing civil society to advocate for the causes it defends under more favorable conditions.

1.1. The Internet as a Working Tool for Politicians

The Internet proves to be an effective working tool for politicians, as it greatly assists them in their daily functions, especially when it comes to decision-making.

Indeed, this public network serves as a genuine database to which access is not restricted. The information circulating there is vast and diverse, covering all matters of public interest and answering many questions. Politicians also find the Internet to be a valuable aid. By consulting this network, they have all the necessary ingredients for decision-making. This decision will be made with full knowledge of the facts, as it is based on more or less solid and reliable foundations.

Similarly, the network provides the opportunity to contact other partners by sending messages and receiving replies. This allows them to weigh the pros and cons of a given issue before deciding. All this, of course, without needing to travel, as the entire operation will be carried out from their office. This saves them time and allows them to act quickly to make the necessary decision on time.

In short, a well-informed politician with access to a resource as rich as the Internet will be able to decide with greater clarity and insight, ultimately serving the state's overall policy, which also relies on this network.

1.2. The Internet in the Service of the State

For the state, the Internet promises new services that strengthen democracy by allowing citizens to participate directly in political actions.

Indeed, in the near future in the United States, voting will no longer be what it used to be. Voters will no longer need to go to the polling station or queue to cast their ballot in an urn as usual. They will be able to participate in this process simply by typing on their computer keyboards. It is, among other things, for this purpose that the country's authorities plan to equip all citizens with the necessary computer equipment. Even those from poor neighborhoods will have access to this new tool, considered essential in the country. Thanks to the Internet, a new and effective form of direct participation in elections and referendums will emerge. Citizens will be free from any constraints and will have the liberty of choice. Cyber-democracy is on the horizon, and transparency will gain ground. Even the most powerful lobbies will not be able to influence or buy voters. Physical contact will not occur, and temptation will disappear. Candidates, on the other hand, by consulting powerful databases on the population of different federated states, will be able to identify potential supporters of the cause they defend.

In this way, they will know what to expect during their election campaign. Their collaborators will have all the necessary data to engage, persuade, and rally as many votes as possible. Later, voters will be less inclined to continue showing deference to the leaders or representatives whose limits and vices they know. The people will have the means of control, and they will be able to see for themselves any irregularities. Moreover, the information accessible to all will put constant pressure on the political class from the people, who will become stakeholders in the administration of public affairs. This new way of voting, expected soon, would never have been imagined without the advent of the Internet, which opens up new horizons for political action and allows citizens to unravel the mystery of certain institutions that were once impenetrable to outsiders.

State institutions are now open to the public. For example, the U.S. Congress is now widely visited virtually. The doors of this legislative body are open to citizens, who, thanks to the Internet, can access it at will. The entire activity of this chamber is now available on the web and can be accessed by modem for those who want to consult it. From their homes, citizens can follow all the sessions in real-time from their PCs. This new opportunity allows them to closely monitor all the interventions made by their representative. This way, they will ensure that their representative acts in line with the promises made and the ideals defended. Members of this institution, aware that they are being watched, will no longer be able to pass laws that benefit only particular interests.

Thus, it appears that these new Internet techniques contribute to fostering more trust between elected officials and voters, ultimately leading to greater political stability and growth for the state.

After these two examples of Internet services benefiting the state, let us now examine the services rendered by this network to trade unions and NGOs in their political actions.

1.3. The Internet in the Service of Civil Society

Trade unions find the Internet to be a highly effective means of making themselves heard and advocating for their political beliefs.

Indeed, on the afternoon of October 3, 1993, three Russian trade unionists effectively opposed an attack on the television building of "Chabrlovskaia" in Moscow. Arrested by the police, these three individuals remained detained for three days, and no media outlet reported on their disappearance. To overcome this information blackout, several Russian trade unionists launched an appeal on the Internet, requesting the rapid intervention of friendly organizations to release their comrades. The next day, dozens of radio and television stations in Europe and the United States broadcast this appeal.

Thanks to the Internet, several human rights organizations decided to support the Russian trade unionists, and the pressure on the Russian authorities mounted. The next day, the three prisoners were released. Without the Internet, these men might still be imprisoned today. This event highlights the power of the Internet, a medium that can amplify political activism and generate international solidarity and action.

In summary, the Internet provides new and unprecedented opportunities for political actors. It has revolutionized the way politicians work, how the state functions, and how civil society engages with politics. These developments point to the strategic role the Internet plays in shaping political actions worldwide.

II. The Internet at the Service of the Military

Military powers today find in the Internet a new tool with multiple capabilities, providing them with new possibilities to confirm their supremacy, using it for various purposes ranging from communication to cyber warfare, including the economization of forces and intelligence gathering.

2.1. The Internet as a New Means of Transmission

In modern technological armies, the Internet has become a preferred communication tool because it allows the rapid transmission of information in all its forms, as far and as quickly as needed.

When it comes to communication, the Internet offers an unprecedented means. Not only can it transmit information in all its forms, but it also guarantees that this information will reach its destination, no matter how far it is.

Indeed, on the Internet, it is possible to transmit information to any corner of the globe as long as it is connected to the network. This network is designed to withstand all types of attacks, even nuclear ones. It must continue to function even if a potential enemy destroys one or several of its parts. If information cannot be transmitted via one route, it will automatically take another route to reach its destination. Any attack on the network is like firing a bullet into a giant spider web. In this regard, Mr. Nicholas NEGROPONTE, director of the research laboratory on new media (Media Lab) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: "When a flock of ducks flies in a 'V' formation in the sky, it is useless to shoot down the lead duck. It's not the one directing the others. The group directs itself. The same applies to the Internet."

This resilience of the network has sparked the interest of modern technological armies. A recent example is the French Air Force, which used Internet technologies during the Balkans conflict to transmit various data between the old base in Solengara and the joint operations center in Vicenza, Italy. They exchanged texts, images, charts, and aerial photographs. All allied users were also able to share information.

The connection extended to the air operations center in Paris, where missions were debriefed daily.

You may wonder about the confidentiality and security of communications, given the public nature of the Internet. The answer is simple. The French Air Force used what is called an Intranet – essentially the Internet but in a protected, internal version. This network is internal to the Ministry of Defense and has the advantage of being closed and completely secure.

The French Army, too, quickly recognized the operational benefits it could gain from the Internet. It has developed its own networks serving all its garrisons with the most modern tools, linking headquarters and forces.

Soon, if not already, it will be possible for French military units to communicate via email. This is the goal of an ongoing program since 1999 called "Secure Universal Messaging." It is a form of inter-service email communication. The connections will be via Intranet without external access to the Internet. This program will be used to transmit command messages, as well as to exchange email between personnel. In the French Air Force alone, 2,500 workstations were planned starting in 2002 (*1).

Thus, the Internet now offers the possibility of transmitting information quickly and discreetly.

All these new possibilities in terms of transmission within the military will undoubtedly contribute to reducing the risks for forces deployed in the field.

Z.2. The Internet and Economization of Forces

Wars are no longer what they used to be. They are now waged from a distance, and the Internet plays an increasingly central role in minimizing the risks for forces in operations.

The only acceptable battles for wealthy countries are those where the enemy is seen only through TV cameras. Friendly troops must suffer "zero casualties." Casualties are only expected on the opposing side. This is the new directive for technological armies. The operations carried out in January and February 1991 against Iraq were exemplary in this regard: 340 deaths on the allied side versus 40,000 to 200,000 on the Iraqi side.

Traditional conflicts no longer involve militarily powerful nations. They are careful not to endanger their armed forces, implementing new combat methods made possible by recent technologies. The consequences of this new policy are significant. Today, a military campaign is prepared using tools that allow the digital reconstruction of all imaginable battlefields, with their share of horror and terror. Thanks to modern tools, including the Internet, a war can be executed virtually, with 80% of its real form being played out on screens before being transposed into reality. This makes it possible to evaluate losses, identify weaknesses, and correct them before moving on to actual execution, which also benefits from the work of intelligence specialists.

Therefore, the Internet is undoubtedly a tool sought after by armies to conserve their forces. But what about its role in intelligence?

2.3. The Internet at the Service of Intelligence

Thanks to its global coverage, the Internet, a multimedia transmission medium, has become an inexhaustible source of intelligence.

To better explain this, let's take the example of the United States. In this country, super-technicians penetrate the strategic networks and computers of adversaries and even allies. This falls within what is known as "information warfare," in which the Internet is considered a strategic tool.

Services navigate day and night, dissecting and analyzing information. In the process, they spread disinformation as much as possible. They aim to access and control the world's communication networks. Monitoring the global network is particularly easy for them. How? Computers contain pre-programmed addresses or keywords. If words like terrorism, drugs, or guerrilla, or names like Castro, Gaddafi, or Saddam Hussein, are used, the entire communication is identified, intercepted, and analyzed. Intelligence gathering on the Internet is not limited to military needs. Economic and political intelligence is now also a central issue. On March 16, 2000, thanks to the Internet, the United States detected nuclear facilities in Pakistan via satellite images.

What is true for the United States is also true for France and Germany, although they are somewhat behind. However, their combined efforts will likely allow them to catch up and become masters of cyber warfare, which is still in its infancy.

It can be said, then, that the Internet is the primary source from which armies gather intelligence. This network is also very useful for cyber warfare.

2.4. The Internet and Cyber Warfare

With the development of networks, cyber warfare will become a significant threat, and the Internet will play a strategic role in it.

In this new type of warfare, the objective is to force the adversary to abandon their demands by paralyzing them. This paralysis would affect all their nerve centers. The goal is to perform a surgical strike on the enemy. This outcome would be achieved by controlling their computer networks or neutralizing them through non-military means. This doctrine is known as "information warfare," a subset of cyber warfare.

The explosion of a bomb on February 26, 1993, inside the World Trade Center Tower in Manhattan highlighted the cyber vulnerability of modern countries. The destruction of the building's computer networks caused significant paralysis in the U.S. economy.

Since then, high-level officials have begun to talk about the risk of an "electronic Pearl Harbor." A massive attack on computer networks could paralyze an entire country and practically bring it to its knees. The scenario might take the following form: traffic disruptions due to malfunctioning signals, disruptions in transportation, electricity distribution, financial systems, communication systems – in short, all vital functions. This scenario would lead to a country's paralysis.

The computer warfare techniques are categorized into three main types. First, there is the "Trojan Horse," a hidden program within another that can trigger a software bomb capable of destroying a computer's contents. Next, we have the "Worm," a program that circulates through networks and computers. Lastly, there are "Viruses," which are pieces of code that replicate from copy to copy and alter programs. Other network attack techniques exist, such as electromagnetic pulses that physically destroy networks. The Americans used this during the Gulf War by launching a Tomahawk missile with an electromagnetic warhead against Baghdad's telecommunications center. We can also mention the development of bacteria that consume electronic components, which American laboratories are working on.

In conclusion, the Internet has become the tool through which armies transmit information discreetly, gather intelligence quickly, and conserve their forces.

While the strategic importance of the Internet in the military field is undeniable, its significance is even greater in the economy.

The Internet has been recognized as an appropriate instrument for and responsive to the globalization of exchanges. Its communication pathways are wide and spacious, "information highways" that are open and accessible to all. The new "Eldorado" with its own globalized market, the "Cyber Economy." Controlling it has become a critical issue for today's nations and tomorrow's societies. The volume of intangible exchanges – financial, stock, or monetary values, as well as texts, documents, and information – already far exceeds that of real-world commercial transactions.

Indeed, the Internet is increasingly focused on the economy. To avoid getting lost in a labyrinth of figures and technical terms that are often incomprehensible to non-experts, we have chosen to explain this by limiting ourselves to the services that the Internet offers to businesses. Since businesses are the main actors in the economy of any country, it will be easier to highlight the advantages they gain from the Internet.

III-Internet is Economically Strategic for a Country

               Internet is economically strategic for a country insofar as its businesses use it by leveraging its multiple services that provide new possibilities in various activities, such as communications, recruitment, client engagement, or even mass sales.

31-Internet as a Means of Communication

One of the advantages of the internet for a business is that it allows cost savings by offering low communication costs and enabling videoconferencing.

Indeed, on the internet, regardless of the starting and ending points of connections, the price remains the same. It’s the price of the telephone call between the user and the internet service provider they are subscribed to, which is often located in the same city or even the same neighborhood. Take, for example, a company in Paris with a subsidiary in Abidjan. The latter must daily report to headquarters about its commercial activity by phone, then by fax to send order forms, and finally by mail for invoice duplicates. The internet allows combining all these flows and transmitting them at once for the cost of a local phone call, sending a word document for the report and a file containing digitized order forms and invoices. Isn't this enough to entice a company with the principle of "communicate globally, pay locally"?

           Videoconferencing is another asset for the company. It substitutes for meetings requiring the presence of individuals far apart. It can also be used as an enhanced phone offering both sound and image, allowing for a more direct and less neutral interaction. Videoconferencing can also improve work meetings between nearby collaborators. Each person stays in their workspace with their documents within reach.

             The same videoconferencing would allow staff to benefit from numerous training courses available on the internet. Staff could attend courses delivered by experts worldwide while being thousands of kilometers away from the speaker. They wouldn’t have to travel and could claim high-level training at a lower cost.

              Thus, the internet allows businesses to communicate at a distance and at a low price. Another major advantage is that, even before considering training its staff, the company would have already recruited them at a lower cost thanks to the internet.

32-Recruitment through the Internet

The internet has become an essential tool for job hunting, and businesses are increasingly using it to recruit staff under more favorable conditions.

Recruitment is a difficult art and a costly operation. The costs of job postings, recruitment consultants, and numerous interviews necessary to select a candidate or organize a contest are all budget items inflating the bill.

The internet and its services help reduce these costs and, at the same time, lower the overall bill. Due to the flexibility of the network, many users can send their resumes. Moreover, genuine virtual job markets have emerged. Some websites specialize in helping businesses find profiles matching their required skills. The internet helps organize contests and skills assessments. For example, recruitment questionnaires are often posted on a website, and interested candidates have a limited time to answer the questions and submit their responses to the server. After a series of technical operations, the company receives a list of the top candidates. The selection process only lasts a few hours without significant expenses for venue rental, printing, or tedious result analysis. On the candidate's side, there are no travel expenses, and they know within minutes if they are selected.

Thus, with the internet, a company can recruit quickly and, above all, without spending much money.

Like recruitment, the internet also allows businesses to stay close to their customers to understand their needs and respond to their demands.

Internet as a Way to Get Closer to the Customer

The internet is a network covering all corners of the globe, enabling companies to be closer to their customers wherever they are, to understand their needs, and respond to their expectations.

A company, regardless of its size, relies on its customers, who it must satisfy. The better it understands its customers' needs, the better it can respond, leading to increased profits. To achieve this, the company must get as close as possible to its customers. Traditionally, a company's marketing department studies and analyzes the market through surveys. Today, via the internet, companies can reach a larger mass of customers, regardless of how far they are, at minimal cost. They can also instantly acquire information on their customers through other companies' databases or specialized companies analyzing consumer needs. Indeed, thanks to the internet, there is now a direct marketing industry that produces, refines, and distributes massive consumer databases.

Thus, the internet enables companies to closely follow customer needs and produce accordingly.

The company also seeks to get closer to its customers to protect them from competition, which has reached unprecedented levels by leveraging the internet to reach all potential markets worldwide and sell on a larger scale.

33-Selling on the Internet

The internet has become a new space for exchange and commerce, capable of generating more revenue for a business as its sales capacities continue to grow, now free from any limitations.

Selling is the goal of every business, whether it's products, services, or information.

The broad geographic reach of the internet, its ever-growing population, and the ease with which it transmits information make it a new opportunity for companies to sell better and more.

In 1994, we saw "company showcases" flourish on the internet. The following year marked the advent of e-commerce, which captivated the entire world.

In 2000, the value of transactions involving goods and services over the internet was estimated at $600 billion. Selling to millions of consumers worldwide without investing in infrastructure or communication services has become an obsession for many business leaders. They can now sell to new customers and, more importantly, extend their competition by reaching new markets in countries previously untapped.

Examples of increased competition due to the internet are numerous. Consider the case of a Parisian bookseller selling English-language books. This bookseller is now competing with an American online bookstore connected to the internet and shipping books worldwide at reasonable prices. Without the internet, the Parisian bookseller would never have faced this new competitor, who would have struggled to penetrate the French market. This example can be replicated infinitely, showing us that the economy has become global. Many companies can no longer rely on a regional or national market. Expanding into new markets and accessing other consumers are essential for the growth of any commercial activity.

Initially, internet commerce involved familiar items like books, CDs, or even plane tickets, but today it includes more significant items like computers and cars. The most successful sectors vary from financial institutions, real estate, auctions, clothing, food, health, and entertainment... All industrial and commercial activities are now closely linked to the networking of economic activities.

An activity usually means a business. If this is the case, imagine the number of companies connected to the internet. The internet has become an essential pathway for many businesses. This is the era of the cyber-economy, control over which is considered a major issue for today's powers. This control necessarily involves mastering the internet.

CONCLUSION:

       In conclusion, the internet is a strategic factor for the economy as it allows businesses to communicate easily, recruit remotely, stay close to customers, and sell on a large scale.