During 2021 I was the grateful recipient of a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship for a project entitled ‘Contesting the heavens: Power, norms, and law in space security governance.’ Space-based technologies are vital for modern human societies, yet International Relations has paid relatively little attention to space as a domain of political interaction. The project examines forms of competition and cooperation amongst states and commercial space operators, focusing on disputes over existing rules and the prospective development of new institutions regulating military uses of space and their intersection with concerns for the natural environment, human-made debris, surveillance, and human security. A brief synopsis can be found in the Trust’s September newsletter.
During the Fellowship I was on leave from my regular teaching and administrative duties at the University of St Andrews. I am grateful to the Leverhulme Trust for supporting this research. Updates on presentations, engagements, and publications related to this project are listed below.
PUBLICATIONS
Bower, Adam and Jeffrey S. Lantis. “Contesting the Heavens: US Antipreneurship and the Regulation of Space Weapons.” European Journal of International Security. Accepted for publication – forthcoming
Bower, Adam. 2023. “Global Constitutionalism and Outer Space Governance.” In Handbook on Global Constitutionalism, second edition, edited by Anthony Lang Jr. and Antje Wiener. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar – forthcoming.
PRESENTATIONS
Preventing an Arms Race in Outer Space: Current Challenges and Future Prospects
SaintsLaw talk, Institute for Legal and Constitutional Research, University of St Andrews, 6 October 2022
and
College of Europe Natolin Campus. Warsaw, Poland, 26 April 2022
Contesting the Heavens: US Antipreneurship and the Regulation of Space Weapons (with Jeffrey Lantis) International Studies Association Annual Convention, 28 March 2022
and
St Andrews Staff-PhD Research Seminar, 9 February 2022
Power, Norms, and Law in Space Security Governance
Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, 21 September 2020
RECORDED DISCUSSIONS
Peace and Conflict in Outer Space
Visualising Peace Project, University of St Andrews. 8 July 2022
With Sqn Ldr Stuart Agnew (UK Space Command), Wg Cdr Sas Duffin (UK Space Command), Otilia Meden (St Andrews), Harris Siderfin (St Andrews)
Link to audio recording
Space, Law and Constitutions
Institute for Legal and Constitutional Research, University of St Andrews, 15 February 2022
With Timiebi Aganaba, Michael Byers, and John Hudson
Link to audio recording
Roundtable: Banning Space Weapons?
Centre for Global Law and Governance, University of St Andrews, 12 October 2021
With Michael Byers, Victoria Samson, and Sarah Thiele
Link to video recording