The 21st century is characterized by dynamic systemic competition between influential states against the global backdrop of political, economic, socio-cultural, technical-industrial and ecological interdependencies. In addition to worrying conventional threats, global megatrends such as the consequences of climate change, disruptive technological innovations, migration and demographic trends are becoming increasingly important in terms of security policy and require strategic consideration. Based on an expanded concept of security, the aim of the "Security, Strategy & Innovation" series is therefore to address pressing security policy issues for Germany and Europe in an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary manner. The aim is to work out which strategic thinking and action can meet the complex challenges of a closely networked world after several decades of advanced globalization. Contributions to this series explicitly present the methodological and/or conceptual exchange between disciplines such as political science strategy and security research, innovation and technology research, peace, conflict and development research, as well as relevant approaches from anthropology, sociology, agricultural sciences, geography, law and ecology.
The starting point of the anthology "Strategic Competition in Space: Politics, Law, Security and Economics in Space" is the observation that the space-based infrastructure around our planet performs a variety of extremely important tasks that have become indispensable for the functioning of all ultra-modern industrial societies. This applies not only to error-free navigation via global satellite-based navigation systems such as Galileo, Glonass or GSP (Global Positioning System), but also to the functionality of our energy supply, ATMs, stock exchange trading or weather forecasting.
In the increasing strategic competition in space, what has become clear in Germany with the "turnaround" also applies: National and alliance interests must be protected from rival power-political influence. It is therefore very welcome that the Federal Republic of Germany has emphasized the importance of space in its National Security Strategy 2023, updated its space strategy and undertaken to publish its first space security strategy.
This anthology marks the start of the new CASSIS series and, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, takes stock of current activities, legal frameworks, political and military lines of conflict and areas of cooperation as well as ongoing trends and challenges in space for the German-speaking world. On the one hand, the legal, military, economic and technological perspectives on the growing importance of this strategic domain are analyzed. On the other hand, the ability and need for action of selected space powers, their opportunities for cooperation and potential for conflict, as well as the need for international political regulation are worked out and, based on this, political recommendations for action are presented.
"Due to the outstanding importance of space travel for our society and innovative strength, it is to be welcomed that this anthology offers a good, condensed inventory of current space activities, the legal framework, the political and military lines of conflict and areas of cooperation as well as further trends and challenges in space for the German-speaking world." (Dr. Anna Christmann, Member of the German Bundestag (B90/Greens) and Federal Government Coordinator for German Aerospace)
"For the first time in the German-speaking world, this book offers an excellent insight into the multidimensional field of tension of space utilization in the 21st century, paints a precise picture of the players and conflicts and provides valuable impulses for the future use of space as a common good for our benefit." (Major General Michael Traut, Commander of the German Armed Forces Space Command)
"For the first time, this anthology addresses the scope, challenges and strategic importance of the space dimension comprehensively and from a wide range of perspectives in German-speaking countries." (Matthias Wachter, Managing Director of the "New Space Initiative" of the Federation of German Industries (BDI))
"I hope that this publication will help to raise awareness of the importance of space security and contribute to a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities the next decades will bring." (Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General (2009-2014) and former Danish Prime Minister (2001-2009))