Theory of Space Power: The Perils of Strategic Analogy

by Sheldon; John

• ISBN13: 9780415477154
• ISBN10: 0415477158
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2020-02-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The book will provide a coherent strategic theory for space power, and explain why previous attempts at theorizing about space power have failed. The book argues that the main reason for this failure is the tendency of theorists to rely on strategic analogies when framing a theory of space power. A strategic analogy is a conceptual tool that finds similarities between two or more strategic environments (land, sea, air, space and cyberspace) and then extrapolates other points of similarity between those strategic environments. The book will look at how theorists extrapolate similarities from the sea and air strategic environments to the space strategic environment, using a rigorous methodology that compares and contrasts strategic analogies through the prism of strategic dimensions such as geography and technology. The use of this methodology helps elucidate the true character of space power as it really is, not as many theorists wish it to be. Furthermore, this process then provides the foundational elements of a theory of space power, and provides a more rigorous basis from which strategic theorists can leave behind the unsound method of reasoning by strategic analogy and start the process of inductive creativity in theory making for space power. The book will be the first rigorous attempt at providing a plausible theory of space power, and will be of much interest to students of space power, strategic studies and air power, as well as international security.

Table of Contents

1.Introduction: Strategic Analogies and Space Power 2.The Character of Space Power 3.Space Power and Sea Power 4.Space Power and Air Power 5.Strategic Analogies and the Foundations of a Theory of Space Power. Select Bibliography