JTM525- Geopolitics of the European Airspace and Space Exploration

Course Lecturer: Sofia Valdez Tůma, Ph.D.

Spring Term 2024

Exam, 2/0, 6 ECTS

Annotation:

This course gives a detailed overview of theories and applications of geopolitics to the European airspace and near-space. Students will have an understanding of the European airspace - history, laws, policies and practices that apply to the economic, commercial and safety aspects of the international air transport. It also gives an insight of space affairs as a geopolitical tool like the others (land and seas) to push forward the states’ strategic interests. Students will be familiarized with the key developments in the spaceplane deployment, new technologies, as well as the European strategic planning, space agreements and regulations in an increasingly challenging “New Space”.

Aims of the Course

Upon completing the course, students will have a fundamental understanding of the role of politics and strategy of the European airspace and space exploration. They will explore such topics as the economics and management of the industry, the adoption of treaties that compose the International Law of the skies and space, detailing the risks, rewards and rivalries between states over the decades.

Teaching methods

Weekly lectures, complemented by discussions over assigned reading and/or current affairs.

Requirements

The exam comprises a 10-page essay, a short presentation and a final test. In each of the three parts of the exam, a prescribed minimum number of points must be gained to pass the entire course. The 5-10 min presentation and the test will take place in class.

Essay(10 pages)–maximum 50 points

1.1) Oral Presentation–maximum 10 points.

2) Final test (multiple choice)–maximum 40 points. This part of the exam covers the entire content of the course.

Classification:

91–100 % A–Excellent

81–90 % B–Very Good

71–80 % C–Good

61–70% D–Satisfactory

51–60 % E-Sufficient

0–50 % F–Fail

Programme of lectures in Spring Term 2024

1- February 23- Introduction to Vertical Geopolitics, Astropolitik, and Diplomacy of Space.

2- March 1- European History of Aviation & Aerospace

3- March 8- The Nuclear threat and the Space Race

4- March 15- The European airspace and air traffic system

5- March 22- International Air Law & Policy

6- April 5- Aviation Industry & Infrastructure

7- April 12- Geopolitics of Air Transport

8- April 19- The “New Space” Economy

9- April 26- EU Space Programmes & Strategy

10- May 3- The European Space Agency (ESA)

11- May 10- Conclusions and Presentation of the Essays

Compulsory Literature

Readings will be assigned from several sources (Articles, Book chapters, and documents).

General Reading List

Banner, S., (2008), Who Owns the Sky? The Struggle to Control Airspace From The Wrigt Brothers On, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2008.

Bartsch, R.I.C., (2018), International Aviation Law: A Practical Guide, London/New York, Routledge.

Bialasiewicz, L. (ed.), (2011), Europe in the World. EU Geopolitics and the Making of European Space, Farnham/Burlington, Ashgate.

Burghouwt, G., (2007), Airline Network Development in Europe and Its Implications for Airport Planning, Hampshire/Burlington, Ashgate.

Cook, A. (ed.), (2018), European Air Traffic Management: Principles, Practice and Research, London/New York, Routledge.

Dawson, L., (2020), The Politics and Perils of Space Exploration: Who Will Compete, Who Will Dominate, Springer Nature.

Dick, S. J. (ed.), (2008), Remembering the Space Age. Proceedings of the 50th Anniversary Conference, Washington DC, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Dickson, P., (2009), A Dictionary of The Space Age, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Diederiks-Verschoor, I.H.; Kopal, V. (2008), An Introduction to Space Law, The Netherlands, Kluwer Law International B.V.

Doboš, B., Geopolitics of the Outer Space. A European Perspective, Cham, Springer, 2019.

Dolman, E.C. (2008), Astropolitik: Classical Geopolitics in the Space Age, London, Frank Cass Publishers.

Forsyth, P., Gillen, Muler, J., Niemeyer, H-M, (eds.), (2010), Airport competition: The European Experience, Surrey/Burlington, Ashgate.

Galliott, J. (ed.) (2015), Commercial Space Exploration: Ethics, Policy and Governance, Farnham/Burlington, Ashgate.

Harvey, B., Smid, H.F., Pirard, T., (2010), Emerging Space Powers: The New Space Programs of Asia, The Middle East, and South America, Praxis.

Horber, T., Stephenson, P., (2016), European Space Policy: European Integration and The Final Frontier, Routledge.

Hoerber, T.C., Sigalas, E. (eds), (2016), Theorizing European Space Policy, Lexington Books/ Fortress Academic.

Lai, A.K. (2021), The Cold War, The Space Race, and The Law of Outer Space: Space for Peace, New York, Routledge.

MacDonald, A.C. (2017), The Long Space Age: The Economic Origins of Space Exploration From Colonial America to the Cold War, Yale University Press.

Mackenzie, D., (2010), ICAO: A History of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Toronto, University of Toronto Press.

Mondey, D., (1993), The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World’s Aircraft, New York, Chartwell Books.

Pyle, R., (2019), Space 2.0: How Private Spaceflight, a Resurgent Nasa, and International Partners are Creating a New Space Age, Dallas, BenBella.

Spagnulo, M. (2021), The Geopolitics of Space Exploration, Cham, Springer Praxis Books.

Starr, H., (2016), On Geopolitics. Space, Place, and International Relations, New York, Routledge.

Suzuki, K., (2003), Logics and Institutions of European Space Collaboration, London, Routledge.

Von der Dunk, F.G.; Brus, M.M.T.A. (eds.) (2006) The International Space Station. Commercial Utilization from a European Legal Perspective, Leiden/Boston, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.</