Understanding the Dynamics of Space Relations: Case of (Dis)Armament

Abstract

Emma Junasova: Understanding the Dynamics of Space Relations: Case of (Dis)Armament, diploma thesis, Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Studies, supervisor: doc. PhDr. Jan Karlas, Ph.D., M.A., degree of qualification: Masters (Mgr.), Prague, 2025, 58 p. The aim of the thesis is to determine, based on a case study of the international space arms control regime, whether contemporary international space order correlates with the notion of American hegemony, and if so, to what extent. The thesis contains a discursive analysis of the narratives connected with a critical analysis of institutions, with a secondary objective of finding out why discussions on space arms control are deadlocked and which actors benefit from this status quo. The expected contribution of the thesis is a balanced critique of mainstream narratives that support and legitimize the transformation of outer space designation from a domain that should be used for the the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, as stated in Article I of the Outer Space Treaty, into a new military operational domain. Key words: Critical Astropolitics, outer space relations, USA, hegemony, disarmament

Emma Junasova: Understanding the Dynamics of Space Relations: Case of (Dis)Armament, diplomova prace, Univerzita Karlova, Fakulta socialních ved, Institut politologickych studií, skolitel: doc. PhDr. Jan Karlas, Ph.D., M.A., stupen odborne kvalifikace: magistr (Mgr.), Praha, 2025, 58 s. Cílem diplomove prace je zjistit, jestli dnesní mezinarodní vesmírny rad koreluje s pojmem americke hegemonie, a pokud ano, do jake míry, a to na zaklade prípadove studie mezinarodního rezimu kontroly vesmírnych zbraní. Prace obsahuje diskurzivní analyzu narativ prepojenou s kritickou analyzou vesmírnych institucí, pricemz je vedlejsím cílem zjistit, proc jsou diskuze o vesmírnem zbrojení na mrtvem bodu a kterym akterum toto status quo vyhovuje. Ocekavanym prínosem prace je vyvazena kritika mainstreamovych narativu, ktere podporují a legitimizují premenu vesmíru z prostoru vyuzívaneho pro blaho a v zajmu vsech zemí bez ohledu na jejich stupen hospodarskeho a vedeckeho rozvoje, jak praví cl. I Kosmicke smlouvy, na novou vojenskou operacní domenu. Klícove pojmy: Kriticka Astropolitika, vesmírne vztahy, USA, hegemonie, odzbrojovaní