Space Weapons and International Law
Abstract
Today's space law environment consists of a number of general positions. The United States believes in space use by all states for peaceful purposes and supports laws that will not hinder national security or peaceful progress. Defensive, nonaggressive military activity is not precluded. To the Soviet Union, space is an extension of the terrestrial environment, subject to the same political and military realities associated with the continuing struggle between capitalism and socialism. President Gorbachev may move Moscow's viewpoint closer to that of the United States, but deep-seated concern over threats to sovereignty will make that move difficult. The Soviet space operations doctrine incorporates military defensive measures, including pre-emptive attack. Other advanced nations espouse beliefs parallel to those of the United States, with less concern over security and more emphasis on economic/social exploitation (peaceful progress). The Third World rejects laws that codify status quo or hinder possible access to, or use of, space. Military space activities of any kind are typically viewed as dangerous to them. This now brings one to the initial question: How might international law effect the weaponization of space? The author has mentioned several themes throughout the paper that bear repeating: (1) historically, international law resulted from the need to control the environment for protection of trade and commerce; (2) laws that ignore basic human drives such as survival, security, and progress will fail - international law must be based on these drives, extended to states; (3) the most important natural right of a sovereign state is self-preservation; (4) successful laws increase world security by their observation and invite disaster if ignored; (5) successful laws enhance world security without erecting barriers to peaceful progress; (6) in today's technologically driven world, the creation of "instant custom" through action is an important source of la7
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 29, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA436611
Entities
People
- Steven J. Sloboda
Organizations
- National War College