The militarization of space: unique opportunities for arms control
In: Die Friedens-Warte: journal of international peace and organization
ISSN: 2366-6714
Lately, commentators on spaceflight raise concerns over rising militarization, possible weaponization, and space becoming a theater of war. Some see arms control regimes as the solution, while others point to the complexity of space technologies and the impossibility to create a functioning arms control regime. These concerns are usually discussed within their separate disciplinary logic in physics and engineering, in international law, and in political science. We argue that combining these perspectives enables us to see the unique opportunities of outer space that allow the creation of a functional arms control regime. We recall major debates in technology, international law, and political science and show how distinct aspects in each discipline not only constrain, but also facilitate space arms control. We employ these findings in discussion of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) of 1972.