T15P07. Exploring the final frontier: Emerging Trends and Interdisciplinary approaches in Space Policy and Governance Research
ScienceCATEGORISATION
KEYWORDS
GENERAL OBJECTIVES, RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND SCIENTIFIC RELEVANCE
Space policy and governance is an expansive, multidisciplinary field encompassing diverse research agendas. Scholars explore the rapid diversification of policy actors (European Space Policy Institute, 2017; Paladini & Castellucci, 2023), technological advancements (Krelina, 2023; RAND Corporation, 2024), the expanding space economy (Aldrin, 2013; Whealan, 2019), and rising challenges like space congestion (Moltz, 2019) and space debris (Gorman, 2019; Migaud, 2020; Miller, 2021). Additionally, the field addresses critical issues of international collaboration (Jiang and Zhao, 2021) and strategic competition among powers (Ruff et al., 2022; Brose, 2020; Johnson-Freese, 2017). Researchers from public policy, international relations, public administration, sociology, and political economy now contribute to this evolving discipline (Pomeroy, 2019).
This panel convenes scholars and practitioners to address key questions at the intersection of space policy and interdisciplinary research. As space becomes an ever-diverse field with significant intersections in energy, governance (both domestic and international), and its critical role in addressing global challenges such as climate change through satellite technology, space policy research and theory building is now central to understanding these complex issues.
We seek to foster collaboration among policy scholars and practitioners, aiming to answer the following research questions:
1. What are the common practices used among various disciplines, such as policy process, public administration, international relations, and political economy, in space policy research agendas?
2. How are these common practices for topical, methodological, and theoretical research agendas influencing the direction of space policy studies?
The relevance of space policy has never been greater - yet, space policy research remains isolated within academic disciplines. This panel intends to bridge the gap between disciplines by encouraging interdisciplinary conversations that explore the growing relevance of space policy and governance in both national and international agendas.
Potential hypotheses/topics:
- The evolution of the space policy subsystem, driven by the emergence of new coalitions, actors, and market incentives that shape policy preferences. Purpose: re-examining coalition typologies and their impact on the policy landscape using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (Jenkins-Smith and Sabatier, 1994).
- The construction of narratives within space policy influences public and political discourse about space as a frontier for technological innovation, security concerns, and environmental monitoring. Purpose: developing deeper understandings of the trends in narrative discourse surrounding space policy and governance using the Narrative Policy Framework (Shanahan, Jones, and McBeth, 2015).
- Partisan rationales shape the priorities of domestic space programs, with a focus on economic development, national security, and the framing of space exploration as a symbol of political and technological prowess. Purpose: discussing the partisan and moral rationales which shape priorities of domestic and international space programs.
- Political agendas in domestic and international space governance have shifted over time. Domestically, space policy may be driven by economic growth and defense strategies, while internationally, there is increasing focus on collaboration and peaceful governance to ensure the sustainable use of space as a global commons. Purpose: describing the advancement of space policy in domestic and international governance agenda-setting.
These topics underscore the growing importance of space policy as an interdisciplinary area of research. By examining these dynamics, the panel will shed light on space as a crucial arena for national and global policy, offering insights into the adaptation of policy to the evolving realities of space exploration, utilization, and regulation.
References
Aldrin, A. J. (2013). Space economics and commerce in a strategic context. In E. Sadeh (Ed.), Space strategy in the 21st century: Theory and policy. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203098288
European Space Policy Institute. (2017). “The Rise of Private Actors - Executive Summary.” https://www.espi.or.at/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ESPI-report-The-rise-of-private-act ors-Executive-Summary-1.pdf
Gorman, A. (2019). Dr. Space Junk vs the Universe. Sydney, NSW, Australia: New South Wales Publishing.
Jenkins-Smith, H. C., & Sabatier, P. A. (1994). Evaluating the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Journal of Public Policy, 14(2), 175–203.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4007571
Jiang, S. and Zhao Y. (2021). “China’s National Space Station: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions for International Cooperation.” Space Policy 57: 101439. doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2021.101439.
Krelina, M. (2023). “The Prospect of Quantum Technologies in Space for Defence and Security.” Space Policy 65: 101563. doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101563.
Migaud, M. R. (2020). “Protecting Earth’s Orbital Environment: Policy Tools for Combating Space Debris.” Space Policy 52: 101361. doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2020.101361.
Miller, G. D. (2021). “Deterrence by Debris: The Downside to Cleaning up Space.” Space Policy 58: 101447. doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2021.101447.
Moltz, J. C. (2019). The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests, Third Edition. Redwood City: Stanford University Press.
Paladini, S., and Castellucci I. (2022). “Sovereign States, Private Actors, and (National)
Space Laws. A Rapidly Evolving Landscape.” In The Institutions of Extraterrestrial Liberty, ed. Charles S. Cockell. Oxford University PressOxford, 366–83. doi:10.1093/oso/9780192897985.003.0022.
Pomeroy, Caleb. (2019). “The Quantitative Analysis of Space Policy: A Review of Current Methods and Future Directions.” Space Policy 48 (May):14–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spacepol.2018.08.001.
RAND Corporation. (2024). “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Space Domain Awareness: The Development of Two Artificial Intelligence Case Studies.” doi:10.7249/RRA2318-2.
Ruff, J. W. A., Stelmach, G., & Jones, M. D. (2022). Space for stories: Legislative narratives and the establishment of the US Space Force. Policy Sciences, 55(3), 509–553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-022-09455-5
Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Michael D. Jones, and Mark K. McBeth. 2015. “Narrative Policy Framework.” Melvin Dubnick and Domonic Bearfield, eds. The Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, 3rd Edition. New York, New York: Taylor and Francis.:http://www.crcnetbase.com/doi/10.1081/E-EPAP3-120053656
Whealan G. K. (2019). “The Economic Impacts of the Commercial Space Industry.” Space Policy 47 (February):181–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spacepol.2018.12.003.
CALL FOR PAPERS
As space becomes an increasingly critical domain, intersecting with areas such as defense, environmental studies, international relations, technological innovation, and the burgeoning space economy, space policy research has never been more relevant. This panel seeks to
foster collaboration and answer key questions on the methodological, topical, and theoretical approaches driving the future of space policy research. The panel will explore how space policy has emerged as a critical area of study and discuss its impacts on national interests, international cooperation, and global governance. We welcome papers that address these and other relevant issues, bringing new insights into the evolving landscape of space policy.
We encourage contributions from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
● Policy subsystems and actor coalitions in space policy
● Space technology and innovation as drivers of policy change
● International and domestic space governance
● Defense, economic development, and the space economy
● Narratives and discourse in space policy
● Environmental policy and space-based climate monitoring
We invite submissions from scholars, practitioners, and researchers across various disciplines who are exploring space policy's implications in areas such as:
● The evolution of coalitions and the space policy subsystem, with attention to new policy actors, preferences, and market incentives.
● The role of narratives in shaping public and political discourse around space, including issues of technology, security, and environmental monitoring.
● The influence of partisan rationales in domestic space programs, particularly regarding economic development and national defense.
● The development of political agendas in space governance, both domestic and international, focusing on economic growth, peaceful collaboration, and the governance of global space commons.
Please submit a paper title and abstract (200-300 words) by the 31st of January, 2025 to the ICPP7 conference site. We look forward to receiving your submissions and engaging in lively discussions about the future of space policy research.
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