Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Space Technology and Meta-Geopolitics

  • Chapter
Meta-Geopolitics of Outer Space

Part of the book series: St Antony’s Series ((STANTS))

  • 450 Accesses

Abstract

The multipolar and less predictable world that emerged after the Cold War, shaped by globalization and events like 9/11 and its consequences, has seen space capabilities gain importance and become a core element of a state’s strategic thinking.1 Strategic, here, refers to means that a state needs to reach its goals, objectives and desired outcomes in each of the seven areas of power defined by meta-geopolitics. As applied to space, it means that domestic politics, the economic situation, demographic trends, health and social conditions, access to natural resources, vulnerability to natural disasters, the availability of a highly skilled workforce and technological know-how, national military and security considerations, as well as diplomatic leverage will together determine the importance a state gives to a national space programme. It will decide how large it will be, the strategic priorities it will have and whether it will take a confrontational approach to the other actors in space. A wealthy country which considers its military power to be an important part of its national security may be more likely to allocate resources for the establishment of a space launch capacity than a less developed country that believes in neutrality. Similarly, an actor that is frequently threatened by environmental disasters such as hurricanes would be more likely to invest in environmental monitoring satellites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. A. Lebeau (2008), ‘Space: The Routes of the Future’, Space Policy, vol. 24, issue 1, February, p. 43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Sheehan (2007), The International Politics of Space (New York and London: Routledge), pp. 20–1.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. D. D. Stine (2007), US Civilian Space Policy Priorities: Reflections 50 Years after Sputnik. CRS Report for Congress, December, http://books.google.ch/books?id=U2IAyxWVF0wC&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&source=gbs_ge_s ummary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false, date accessed 2 August 2011, p. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cf. W. D. Compton (1989), Where No Man Has Gone Before: A History of Apollo Lunar Exploration Missions, NASA Special Publication-4214, NASA History Series, http://www.solarviews.com/history/SP-4214/contents.html, date accessed 21 December 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  5. T. Hitchens (2003), Developments in Military Space: Movement Towards Space Weapons?, Centre for Defense Information, October, http://www.cdi.org/pdfs/space-weapons.pdf, date accessed 21 December 2010, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cf. F. G. Klotz (1998), Space, Commerce and National Security (New York: Council on Foreign Relations).

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. E. Shawn (1999), ‘The Influence of Space Power upon History (1944–1998)’, Air Power History, vol. 46, issue 4, Winter, pp. 20–9.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cf. Klotz (1998), ‘Space, Commerce, and National Security’.

    Google Scholar 

  9. E. S. Waldrop (2003), ‘Integration of Military and Civilian Space Assets: Legal and National Security Implications’, unpublished LL.M. Dissertation, McGill University, http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/webclient/StreamGate?folder_id=0&dvs=1312278427011~816, date accessed 2 August 2011, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cf. Shawn (1999), ‘The Influence of Space Power upon History (1944–1998)’.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sheehan (2007), The International Politics of Space, pp. 99–100.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. British Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2006), ‘Military Uses of Space’, Postnote 273, December, http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn273.pdf, date accessed 2 August 2011, pp. 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  13. E. Sadeh (2010), ‘Towards a National Space Strategy’, Astropolitics, vol. 8, issue 2–3, p. 82.

    Google Scholar 

  14. M. S. Smith (2004), ‘US Space Programs: Civilian, Military and Commercial’, CRS Issue Brief for Congress, http://www.fas.org/spp/civil/crs/IB92011.pdf, date accessed 8 January 2011, pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lebeau (2008), ‘Space: The Routes of the Future’, p. 43.

    Google Scholar 

  16. P. Meyer (2006), ‘Opening Remarks’, Report of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Conference (UNIDIR), Building the Architecture for Sustainable, 30–1 March (Geneva: United Nations Press), p. xxii.

    Google Scholar 

  17. RAND National Defense Research Institute (2006), National Security Space Launch Report (Santa Monica: RAND Corporation), http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2006/RAND_MG503.pdf, date accessed 8 January 2011, pp. 2–3.

    Google Scholar 

  18. R. Skaar (2007), ‘Commercialisation of Space and its Evolution: Will New Ways to Share Risks and Benefits Open Up a Much Larger Space Market?’, European Space Policy Institute Report 4, May, http://www.espi.or.at/images/stories/dokumente/studies/commercialisation.pdf, date accessed 8 January 2011, p. 9.

    Google Scholar 

  19. J. A. Giacalone (2008), ‘Global Trends in the Commercialization of Spacem’, Journal of Business & Economics Research, vol. 6, issue 8, http://cluteonline.com/journals/index.php/JBER/article/view/2462/2508, date accessed 2 August 2011, pp. 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Space Foundation (2008), The Space Report 2008: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity, Executive Summary, http://www.contentfirst.com/past/Spacefoundation/08executivesummary.pdf, date accessed 2 August 2011, p. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Giacalone (2008), ‘Global Trends in the Commercialization of Space’, p. 68.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Skaar (2007), ‘Commercialisation of Space and Its Evolution’, p. 27.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sadeh (2010), ‘Towards a National Space Strategy’, p. 80.

    Google Scholar 

  24. D. Wright, L. Grego and L. Gronlund (2005), The Physics of Space Security: A Reference Manual (Cambridge: American Academy of Arts and Sciences, http://www.amacad.org/publications/Physics_of_Space_Security.pdf, date accessed 8 January 2010, p. 16.

    Google Scholar 

  25. E. Sadeh (2011), ‘Space and the Environment’, in C. D. Lutes, P. L. Hays (eds), with V. A. Manzo, L. M. Yambric and M. E. Bunn, Toward a Theory of Spacepower: Selected Essays (Washington, D.C.: National Defense University Press), http://www.ndu.edu/press/spacepower.html, date accessed 6 June 2011, pp. 252–276.

    Google Scholar 

  26. B. Warf (2007), ‘Geopolitics of the Satellite Industry’, Tijdschrift voor Economishe en Sociale Geographe, vol. 98, issue 3, http://www2.ku.edu/~geography/Docs/Barney%20papers/satellite%20geopolitics.pdf, date accessed 2 August 2011, p. 385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. A. Bhaskaranarayana, C. Varadarajan and V. S. Hedge (2009), ‘Space-Based Societal Applications: Relevance in Developing Countries’, Acta Astronautica, vol. 65, issue 9–10, November–December, p. 1479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. K. R. Sridhara Murthi, A. Bhaskaranarayana and H. N. Madhusudana (2010), ‘New Developments in Indian Space Policies and Programmes: The Next Five Years’, Acta Astronautica, vol. 66, issue 3–4, p. 335.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Bhaskaranarayana et al. (2009), ‘Space-Based Societal Applications’, p. 1480.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Murthi et al. (2010), ‘New Developments in Indian Space Policies and Programmes’, p. 334.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), ‘About ISRO’, http://www.isro.org/scripts/Aboutus.aspx, date accessed 2 August 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  32. For detailed information about Indian space infrastructure, see Bhaskaranarayana et al. (2009), ‘Space-Based Societal Applications’, pp. 1479–85.

    Google Scholar 

  33. H. V. Pant and G. Bharath (2008), ‘India’s Emerging Missile Capability: The Science and Politics of Agni-III’, Comparative Strategy, vol. 27, issue 4, July-September, pp. 378–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Murthi et al. (2010), ‘New Developments in Indian Space Policies and Programmes’, p. 334.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bhaskaranarayana et al. (2009), ‘Space-Based Societal Applications’, p. 1481.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Sheehan (2007), The International Politics of Space, p. 147.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  37. Bhaskaranarayana et al. (2009), ‘Space-Based Societal Applications’, pp. 1483–4.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Murthi et al. (2010), ‘New Developments in Indian Space Policies and Programmes’, p. 334.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Sheehan (2007), The International Politics of Space, p. 147.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  40. Murthi et al. (2010), ‘New Developments in Indian Space Policies and Programmes’, p. 334.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Bhaskaranarayana et al. (2009), ‘Space-Based Societal Applications’, p. 1481.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lebeau (2008), ‘Space: The Routes of the Future’, p. 43.

    Google Scholar 

  43. S. Pagkratis (2011), Space Policies, Issues and Trends in 2010/2011, ESPI Report 35(Vienna: ESPI), p. 23.

    Google Scholar 

  44. P. Tarikhi (2009), ‘Iran’s Space Programme: Riding High for Peace and Pride’, Space Policy, vol. 25, issue 3, p. 161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. U. Rubin (2006), The Global Reach of Iran’s Ballistic Missiles, Memorandum 86, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Tel Aviv University, http://www.inss.org.il/upload/(FILE)1188302022.pdf, date accessed 2 August 2011, p. 45.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Tarikhi (2009), ‘Iran’s Space Programme’, p. 163.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Tarikhi (2009), ‘Iran’s Space Programme’, p. 172.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Cf. National Academy of Science (1997), ‘The Global Positioning System: The Role of Atomic Clocks’, Beyond Discovery: The Path from Research to Human Benefit (Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press), http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.page.asp?I=1275, date accessed 8 January 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  49. B. M. DeBlois, R. L. Garwin, R. S. Kemp and J. C. Marwell (2004), ‘Space Weapons: Crossing the US Rubicon’, International Security, vol. 29, issue 2, p. 65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Wright et al. (2005), The Physics of Space Security, p. 165.

    Google Scholar 

  51. European Commission (2010), ‘Action Plan on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Applications’, Communication from the Commission to the Council, European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the regions, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:0308:FIN:EN:PDF, date accessed 7 March 2011, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  52. European Commission (2010), ‘Action Plan on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Applications’, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Lembke (2001), ‘The Politics of Galileo’, p. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Book description from editor page about Alexander Bolonkin (2005), Non-Rocket Space Launch and Flight (Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd.), http://www.nextag.com/Non-rocket-Space-Launch-1230268695/specs-html, date accessed 12 April 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  55. P. V. Panetta (1998), ‘NASA-GSFC Nano-Satellite Technology Development’, Paper presented at the 12th AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, 23–6 August 1998, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, http://www.smallsat.org/proceedings/12/ssc98/6/sscvi5.pdf, date accessed 3 August 2011, pp. 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  56. M. Othman (2003), ‘Small Satellites for the Benefit of Developing Countries’, Acta Astronautica, vol. 52, issue 9–12, pp. 687–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Othman (2003), ‘Small Satellites for the Benefit of Developing Countries ’, p. 690.

    Google Scholar 

  58. M. Othman (2002), ‘Keynote Address: The Small Satellite Business: Contributions to, and from, Developing Countries’, in M. J. Rycroft and N. Crosby (eds), Smaller Satellites: Bigger Business?: Concepts, Applications and Markets for Micro/Nano Satellites in a New Information World (New York: Springer), p. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  59. L. A. Fisk (2008), ‘The Impact of Space on Society: Past, Present and Future’, Space Policy, vol. 24, issue 4, November, p. 180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. N. Peter (2009), ‘Space Power and Europe in the 21st Century’, European Space Policy Institute Perspectives 21, April, http://www.espi.or.at/images/stories/dokumente/Perspectives/ESPI_Perspectives_21.pdf, date accessed 27 July 2011, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. St Antony’s College, Oxford University, UK

    Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan (Senior Member, Senior Scholar in Geostrategy, and Director of the Geopolitics of Globalisation and Transnational Security Programme)

  2. Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Geneva, Switzerland

    Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan (Senior Member, Senior Scholar in Geostrategy, and Director of the Geopolitics of Globalisation and Transnational Security Programme)

Authors
  1. Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2012 Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Al-Rodhan, N.R.F. (2012). Space Technology and Meta-Geopolitics. In: Meta-Geopolitics of Outer Space. St Antony’s Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137016652_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation