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The growing space regionalization of the global space regime complex

Tijdschriftbijdrage - Tijdschriftartikel

The continuous proliferation of regional space regimes is noted as a trend of space regionalization in the development of the global space governance architecture. These regional regimes, consisting of the international treaties, multilateral arrangements, formal and informal international organizations created in the different given geographical areas by a group of nations, are dedicated to deal with various global and regional space-related issues. The end of the space regionalization is to facilitate all individual states to use outer space and enjoy the benefits from the space technology applications. The increasing number of space regimes seemingly bridged the gap between the global and the national governance levels on the one hand. It, one the other hand, led the entire global space governance architecture toward a expanding and fragmented global space regime complex where an array of partially overlapping and non-hierarchical institutions governing the global space affairs. In this paper, we aim to take stock why and how the regional space regimes were bred to their birth then continue their respective space regionalization of their kind. The informative study is expected to assist our further study on understanding the relevance between the space regionalization and the growing global space regime complex. In the first section, we briefly overviewed the growing space regionalization of global space governance. Furthermore we identify that three major motivations, formally noted as strategic, functional and organizational logics, jointly steer the space regionalization processes to pursuit respective states’ objectives of (1) aligning regional astropolitics; (2) harmonizing the regional space capacity building efforts; and (3) establishing and consolidating the regional space governance architecture. Moreover, it is perceivable that the influences from (1) the intra-regional geopolitical dynamics; (2) a ‘mirror effect’ inspired from other regional space regionalization model; (3) and the endorsement from the global space regimes have jointly bred the birth of different space regionalization processes. Finally, we argue that together with other fragmentation forces, the growing space regionalization sounds also scatter the architecture of global space governance toward a regime complex. For this observation, further study need to be pursuit.
Tijdschrift: THE AVIATION & SPACE JOURNAL
ISSN: 2281-9134
Issue: 1
Volume: 14
Pagina's: 23 - 34
Jaar van publicatie:2015