The U.S. has officially declared that space is NOT global commons [1], potentially driven by an erroneous interpretation of the concept in the specific context. At the same time, the U.S. defense establishment emphasizes the importance of “command of the commons”, where space is one of those ‘commons’. [2].
The panel will start by discussing some basic questions: Is space a global commons? What are global commons anyway? Are they similar to the traditional commons discussed in the Bloomington School’s literature? The panel will continue with a discussion on the applicability of the lessons learned from cases of local / traditional commons to global commons, notably outer space, the open seas, the atmosphere, and the Antarctic.
The panel will contemplate the proper use, management, distribution, and conservation of space and its resources, as well as the theory and practice of building institutions for governing the space commons, especially in the context of a changing world in which multilateralism – and the current global order itself – are increasingly contested.
[1] Executive Order 13914: Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources, signed by the President on of April 6, 2020, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/10/2020-07800/encouraging-international-support-for-the-recovery-and-use-of-space-resources.
[2] Posen, Barry. “Command of the Commons: The Military Foundation of U.S. Hegemony.” Quarterly Journal: International Security, vol. 28. no. 1. (Summer 2003): 5-46, https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/command-commons-military-foundation-us-hegemony.
