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Space Security and Meta-Geopolitics

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Meta-Geopolitics of Outer Space

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

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Abstract

In examining the strategic application of space technology by states through the prism of meta-geopolitics, I argued that space technology has the potential to strengthen each of the seven capacities of a state’s space power and thereby increase its weight in the balance of international power relations. Many actors have acknowledged the benefits that derive from space and decided to take advantage of them, as the United Stated and the Soviet Union did from the start of the space age. Given the heavy financial burden of space programmes coupled with recent budget restrictions, the private sector has emerged as a new key player in the space adventure. As a result, space has become more crowded and competitive while states have become increasingly reliant on technologies placed there for most of their military and civilian activities. These recent developments raise new concerns about security in space. Today’s main challenges to space security include a broad range of intentional and unintentional threats, ranging from congestion to debris to potential attacks. Increased reliance on space technology brings with it vulnerability to disruption of space services, while the emergence of new actors in space poses challenges in terms of coordination of orbits, collisions and even potential attack by another state.

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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)

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  1. Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan
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© 2012 Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan

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Al-Rodhan, N.R.F. (2012). Space Security and Meta-Geopolitics. In: Meta-Geopolitics of Outer Space. St Antony’s Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137016652_4

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