Space Power Theory: A Tailor‑made Approach or a New Theoretical Challenge to IR?

Authors

  • Irma Słomczyńska Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/AdAmericam.14.2013.14.09

Abstract

This article aims to analyze U.S. space power theories formulated by eminent military strategists and analysts with reference to International Relations theories. Starting with the statement that space systems and space exploitation are becoming an increasingly important factor for states and non‑state actors, the article seeks to explore if current space power theories meet the requirements of the changing reality. The main assumption of the article is that space power theories in their current form should be perceived rather as tailor‑made doctrines formulated for strategic and political purposes, and not new IR theories, because they have many deficiencies. The article contains a review of basic theoretical attempts made by David E. Lupton, James E. Oberg and James C. Moltz, as well as a critical analysis of them in the context of IR. As a result, the article concludes that a comprehensive space power theory has not been formulated yet, and poses an academic challenge to IR theorists.

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Author Biography

  • Irma Słomczyńska, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland

    Ph.D.: assistant professor at the Department of Theory of Politics and Methods in Political Science, Faculty of Political Science, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin. Her research interests cover international and national security, Common Security and Defence Policy, and the EU in the international context. Her most recent publications are: European Union – Sub-Saharan Africa. Determinants – Mechanisms – Efficiency of Cooperation, Lublin 2011 (a book co-authored with Pawel Frankowski); Unilateral versus Multilateral. Strategic Cultures of the United States and the European Union in Contemporary World Order in: Quo vadis America? Conceptualizing Change in American Democracy, ed. by Bohdan Szklarski, Frankfurt am Main 2011; Shaping the World Order by Force, in: Order and Disorder in the International System, ed. by Sai Felicia Krishna-Hensel, Aldershot 2010. She manages the research project entitled European Space Policy granted by the National Science Centre (N N116 321638).

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Published

29-12-2013

Issue

Vol. 14 (2013)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2013 Irma Słomczyńska

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Słomczyńska, Irma. “Space Power Theory: A Tailor‑made Approach or a New Theoretical Challenge to IR?”. Ad Americam, vol. 14, Dec. 2013, pp. 139-48, https://doi.org/10.12797/AdAmericam.14.2013.14.09.