Geopolitics of the Outer Space

This book presents a comprehensive geopolitical analysis of European space activities. By studying outer space as a physical and socio-economic space as well as a military-diplomatic area, the author helps readers understand outer space as a geopolitical environment. The book also offers insights into the behavior and strategies of different actors, with a special focus on the European space strategy and the nature of the European space program and diplomacy.

Autorentext

Bohumil Dobo is a scholar at the Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and a coordinator of the Geopolitical Studies Research Centre. His main areas of expertise are neomedieval geopolitics, territoriality of non-state actors, and astropolitics.

Inhalt
1.Introduction2.Outer space as a Physical Space2.1. Terminology2.2. Astromechanics movement in outer space2.3. Space environment2.4. Celestial bodies2.4.1.Moon2.4.2.Mars2.4.3.Smaller celestial bodies2.5. Effects on living organisms2.6. Outer Space as a Physical Space3.Outer Space as a Military-Diplomatic Field3.1. Space law3.2. Space and diplomacy3.3. Space and warfare3.4. Space security3.5. Outer Space as a Military-Diplomatic Field4.Outer Space as a Socio-Economic Field4.1. The social importance of space assets4.2. Space and economy4.3. Private (and) commercial actors4.4. Resource extraction and energy from space4.5. The future of space economy4.6. Outer Space as a Socio-Economic Field5.The History of the European Space Program5.1. Geopolitics of the European integration5.1.1.Post-Second World War global geopolitics5.1.2.Geopolitics of the European continent5.1.3.The Process of European integration5.2. The history of the European space program5.2.1.Phase 1 to the Moon!5.2.2.Phase 2 Crumbling bipolarity5.2.3.Phase 3 to the Moon?6.European Astropolitics6.1. European strategic interests6.2. Official European space strategy6.3. European space capabilities6.4. SWOT6.4.1.Strengths6.4.2.Weaknesses6.4.3.Opportunities6.4.4.Threats6.5. Towards the European space strategy6.5.1.Cooperative nature6.5.2.Strategic independence6.5.3.Commercialization6.5.4.Participation on the new frontier missions6.6. Europe in outer space7.Conclusion