The Politics of Outer Space SU26 (PSCI-22901-01)

This class explores international cooperation and conflict in outer space as a new frontier for global politics in rich and thought-provoking ways. The class examines issues and debates like prospects for colonizing Mars, mining the Moon, placing weapons in space, equality and diversity of access to space resources, the growing role of companies in space like SpaceX, preventing satellite collisions in orbit, and even protecting the Earth against space-based threats (planetary defense). It employs a mix of digital tools, exercises, guest speakers, theories, real-world case studies, and even science fiction illustrations and films. [GE, HSS]