IR 6693 - Space Security

3 Semester Hour(s)

Space is a domain that is contested, congested, and competitive. Further, the unique physical conditions of space challenge all those who wish to take advantage of it. This class, while focusing on issues inherent in the military use of space including weaponization, the security dilemma, and theory, also focuses on the difficult operating conditions space presents as we explore major strategic challenges and the rise of great power competition in space. The course begins with a broad overview of space warfare and the issues inherent in it, followed by a broader discussion of historical trends and patterns in space security and strategy, beginning with the Cold War. We then discuss various theoretical approaches to space power, considering the implications of using analogies in discussions about space.