Future of Outer Space Security

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2011 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 90 percent (18/20), , course: Technologie de puissance et doctrine stratégique, language: English, abstract: [...] I will in this paper argue that space weaponization is inevitable and consequentially then so isan outer space arms race. In order to fully understand the implications of this statement aswell as the logic behind this argument, it is important to have a general understanding of therole of space in our world today, as well as to have a comprehensive concept of space securityand the general threats facing it. Therefore, before providing the arguments to support myhypothesis, I will provide the reader with a comprehensive summary of the current spacesituation and relevant concepts tied to it. I then will focus on the specific threat of spaceweaponization and an outer space arms race. A discussion concerning a comprehensivedefinition of what constitutes a space weapon will be provided as will a prediction of thedevastating consequences of such weapon deployment. This will be followed by an overview of preventative measures that have been taken against the deployment of space weapons, aswell as the effectiveness of these measures. After this basic summary of the current outerspace situation has been established, I will analyze the likelihood of space weaponsdeployment in the future, based on recent international trends as well as the national spacepolicies of influential states. I will subsequently support my conclusion that spaceweaponization and a space arms race are inevitable by providing theoretical arguments thatprove this point.In order to fully understand the devastating effects space weaponization would have on ourworld, it is important to be conscientious of the vast and diverse roles outer space use plays intoday's contemporary society.