Space Security

Beyond the Final Frontier: Emerging Powers and Private Influence in Outer Space

Beyond the Final Frontier: Emerging Powers and Private Influence in Outer Space

The spatial domain has experienced significant transformations over time, both politically and economically. In parallel to terrestrial globalization, the advent of space programs in emerging nations implies a departure from global powers' traditional complete dominance. This shift is not only limited to state endeavors but also includes a rising number of private entities, which are particularly present in Western countries. This evolution raises several pertinent questions: Who exactly were the key players in the first new era of space exploration? To what extent do ‘the rise of the rest’ and the involvement of private enterprises represent a pivotal shift in the dynamics of Outer Space?

Moon Rush: The First Step In A New Security Space

Moon Rush: The First Step In A New Security Space

We are currently on the verge of a new age in space activities. The proliferation of lunar exploration programmes and plans to build the first permanent settlements in the 2030s could have a great impact on future international economic and political dynamics. But what are the reasons to think of the Moon as a strategic objective? What countries are trying to capitalise on it? In the following article, I will try to answer both questions.

Middle-Power Space Strategies: A Comparison of Canada and South Korea

Middle-Power Space Strategies:   A Comparison of Canada and South Korea

Space policy issues are often framed in the context of great power competition. States like Russia, the People’s Republic of China and the United States are the main drivers of technological innovation in this area, but their rivalries also constitute barriers in negotiations regarding international governance. Nonetheless, space efforts of middle powers are not just important for the preservation of these states’ economic position in the international system but