Data Sovereignty and the Political Economy of Digital Public Infrastructure: Reconfiguring State Capacity in the Information Age

Abstract

The increasing centrality of data in economic and governance systems has led to the emergence of data sovereignty as a critical dimension of political economy. Digital public infrastructure (DPI) has become a foundational mechanism through which states manage data flows, service delivery, and economic coordination. This paper examines the relationship between data sovereignty and state capacity through a political-institutional framework. Using the Digital Sovereignty Capacity Framework (DSCF), the study analyses data governance structures, institutional coordination, and accountability mechanisms. The paper argues that contemporary state capacity is increasingly defined by the ability to govern data ecosystems effectively, positioning digital public infrastructure as a central pillar of modern governance.