Stroikos, Dimitrios 
ORCID: 0000-0002-1588-1969
(2025)
Contested space.
In: Mostesha, Sa’id, Beischl, Christoph and Sönnichsen, Arne, (eds.)
Elgar Encyclopedia of Space Policy and Governance.
Edward Elgar, pp. 34-37.
ISBN 9781803925462
Abstract
The term contested space has become prominent in space policy discussions and documents. Originating in the mid- to late 2000s, it largely reflects concerns over adversaries developing capabilities to challenge US space dominance and space security. Despite lacking definitional clarity, it initially gained traction within the United States of America, but it is now mentioned widely internationally, notably among its allies and in response to geopolitical tensions with China and Russia. However, critics argue that its use not only oversimplifies complex space issues but also assumes an aggressive connotation. As such, it is premised on assumptions about the inevitability of conflict in space that can end up exacerbating the risk of space warfare, generating a self-fulfilling prophecy. In this entry, the origins, evolution, and the principal factors that gave rise to the notion of space as contested are first examined before highlighting some of the problematic aspects of the term.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2025 The Editors and Contributors Severally |
| Divisions: | International Relations |
| Subjects: | T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) J Political Science J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Oct 2025 16:03 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2025 09:15 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/129912 |
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