In the modern world, technical issues define space policy. Missing from discussions of space policy, however, is a consideration of the political consequences of new space endeavors, particularly in the context of the European Union. This book, therefore, approaches space policy instead from the discipline of European studies and analyzes the European integration process through the lenses of political science, history, economics, and international relations. The strengths of each discipline are used to apply theoretical approaches to current issues in European space policy. Theorizing European Space Policy is the latest contribution to the growing debate on space policy and its role in the European integration process.

This volume addresses developments in European space policy and its significance for European integration, using discourse theory as a framework. It seeks to address the developments in European space policy by examining several sensitive security questions linked in general with space activities, on the one hand, and the interplay between space policy and security policy in the European Union (EU) on the other. The book argues that defence and security matters should be studied for a better understanding of space projects in their historical, political, economic, legal and social context. The volume seeks to answer the following key questions: • What can space policy contribute to European identity formation and the integration process? • What are the interests of member states/EU institutions in space? • How is space policy perceived by European institutions, and how have they been engaged in the policy process to promote activity in space? • In which ways is the EU engaged in space, in terms of policy areas, e.g. foreign policy, industrial policy, security and defence policies? • What is the impact of institutions on the policy-making process in European space policy? This book will be of interest to students of EU policy, space policy, discourse studies and International Relations in general.

Space policy is at the cutting edge of current EU policy developments and is a fascinating object of study, involving multiple and diverse actors. It is also an original and contemporary lens for studying European policy-making. This book explores advances in European space policy and their significance for European integration. Using a ‘framing’ methodology, it addresses central questions in European studies in order to form an interdisciplinary bridge between current research in space policy and contemporary European political studies. It assesses the interests of EU institutions in space and how these institutions perceive space policy. Furthermore, it demonstrates that space is a cross-cutting policy domain affecting a diverse range of EU policy fields, such as security, transport and migration, and underpinning the 21st century European and global economy. In doing so, this volume firmly locates space policy in the field of European Studies. This innovative volume will be of key interest to students and scholars of a range of policy areas including common foreign and security policy, technology policy, transport policy, internal market policies, environmental policy, development aid and disaster-risk management, as well as the EU institutions.

This book builds a bridge between current research in space policy and contemporary European political studies by addressing developments in European space policy and its significance for European integration. It answers questions central to European studies applying them to the burgeoning field of EU space policy and takes an interdisciplinary approach, examining space policy in the light of a range of policy areas including common foreign security policy, technology policy, transport policy and internal market. Using a theoretical framework based around notions of neo-institutionalism to evaluate the evolving nature of space policy in Europe, the book provides clear insights into the development of the sector and the resulting developments made to the European political landscape. This text will be of key interest to scholars and students of Space policy, EU studies/politics, European Studies/Politics, International Relations, Political Science, History Economics and Security Studies.

The book provides a structural analysis of the European space effort from an institute change perspective. It analyzes the EU-ESA inter-institutional relationship, gives an overview of the development of space policy in Europe, and advances the debate about the impact of the European integration process on existing institutional actors. While European Space collaboration was initially developed outside the competences of the European Union (EU) with space programmes being carried out almost exclusively under the framework of European Space Agency (ESA) and national agencies, the EU has gained “shared competences” (Art. 2, TFEU) in space policy following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. Currently the EU and ESA work together under a Framework Agreement. In 2016, the EU Commission has published a Communication entitled “European Space Policy” (ESP). Even though ESA’s Member States have agreed to keep ESA as an intergovernmental organisation during the ESA Ministerial Council of 2014, the discussion about ESA becoming part of the EU framework continues. The EU’s ambitions for leadership in European space policy raise question concerning the future of ESA. The study of institutions lies at the heart of political sciences. Strikingly the theoretic framework qualifying institutional change and making it comparable leaves room for more concrete and testable dimensions of institutional change.

This book is focused on militarization as the nucleus of EU space policy and the interrelatedness of European security, industrial competitiveness, and military capabilities in the shaping of this policy. The EU and key member states have increasingly joined the US, China and Russia, among others, in regarding space assets as critical military, as well as economic, industrial, and technological, enablers. This book tackles this issue by, first, shedding light on the military aspects of EU space policy, with special emphasis on the security and defence dimensions of projects such as Galileo, Copernicus, Space Situational Awareness, and Satellite Communication. In this context, contributors confront the empirical aspect of developments, including the role of different institutional actors and the involvement of specific member states. Further, the volume analyses the discursive, ideological, normative, and theoretical foundations of the use of space by the EU for strategic purposes, drawing on the broad spectrum of European integration/International Relations theory. Last, but not least, the volume discusses initiatives outside the EU by key global space players, with an emphasis on the US and transatlantic space relations. All chapters maintain a solid empirical foundation, in the form of geographical or issue-related focus, with an area-specific emphasis on the EU as a whole, transatlantic relations, the policies of key member states (such as France and Italy), and core space powers such as the US, China and India. This book will be of much interest to students of space power, security studies, European politics and International Relations.

Focusing on European collaboration outside of the European Union (EU), this volume deepens the analysis of the current status of space policy in Europe, looking at the roles and functions of the institutions of European space collaboration, and what influences the interests and strategies of experts and policy-makers. Providing a new conceptual framework, the book also develops an innovative perspective for understanding the interactions between international and domestic policy-making, as well as a comprehensive analysis of how European states collaborate in a security-sensitive area such as space. This invaluable work is suitable for courses on and specialists in European studies, international relations and international political economy.