Measuring France Hegemony in the European Space Agency (ESA)
Abstract
Control over resources, actors, and events and outcomes are three of many approaches offered by International Relations studies in terms of measuring power. This paper highlights the crucial role of power measurement in astropolitics, based on the context of the European Union (EU). In particular, it focuses on France's hegemony in the European Space Agency (ESA) using the Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST) to observe the structural power within the ESA. To analyze this, the author uses the regime concept and the theory of hegemonic stability. The research method in this article uses qualitative methods, taking credible sources from various literature such as website articles, mass media, conference publications and scientific articles. This paper reveals that regardless of France’s domination in knowledge and funds, France is not the hegemonic power in the ESA. While an organization is normally featured with domination, this paper argues that power domination in the ESA is dynamically shared among the country members to accomplish a more collaborative rather than dominative feat. This leads to a a solid structure within the ESA and renders power-based domination irrelevant.
References
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Bradford, A. (2007). Regime Theory. Oxford Public International Law. Accessed from https://core.ac.uk/reader/230160950.
Brandenburg, M., & Lieberman, S. (2022). Critical Spaces: European and U.S. Institutions for Outer Space. Astropolitics, 20(1), 93–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/14777622.2022.2098014
Colomé, H. F. (2020). The Militarization of Outer Space: An Analysis of the Current International Dynamics at Play. Spain: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Cox, Robert W. & Harold K. Jacobson. (1973). The Anatomy of Influence. Decision Making in International Organizations. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press
De Senarclens, P. (1993). Regime Theory and the Study of International Organizations. International Social Science Journal, 45(4), 453-62.
Dirzauskaite, G & Ilinca, N. C. (2017). Understanding “Hegemony” in International Relations Theories. Aalborg University: Development and International Relations
ESA. (2024a). “European Space Agency.” Accessed from https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Frequently_asked_questions2.
ESA. (2024b). “Funding.” European Space Agency. Accessed from https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Funding.
Statista. (2023, 1 December). European Space Agency's main contributors 2022. Accessed from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1169442/esa-budget-contributors-europe/.
France MOFA. (2024). France's role in European space policy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Accessed from https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/France-foreign-policy/scientific-and-academic-diplomacy/cooperation-in-the-space-sector/article/france-s-role-in-european-space.
Febriani, R., & Hamdi, I. (2024). Soft power & hegemony: Gramsci, Nye, and Cox’s perspectives. Jurnal Filsafat, 34(1), 86-110. https://doi.org/10.22146/jf.87478
Gillard, M. (2006). Hegemonic Stability Theory and the Evolution of the Space Weaponization Regime During the Cold War. Columbia: The University of British Columbia.
Hasenclever, A., Mayer, P., & Rittberger, V. (1996). Interests, Power, Knowledge: The Study of International Regimes. Mershon International Studies Review, 40(2), 77-228.
Janvier, J. (2024). “2024, France Renews Its Ambitions As Europe Reinvents Itself In Space.” France-Science. Accessed from https://france-science.com/2024-france-renews-its-ambitions-as-europe-reinvents-itself-in-space/.
Khadilkar, D. (2023). “'Urgent' that Europe pursues space exploration, European space chief says.” RFI. Accessed from https://www.rfi.fr/en/science-and-technology/20231106-important-and-urgent-that-europe-continues-space-exploration-esa-chief-says.
Kindleberger, C. (1983). On the Rise and Decline of Nations. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Krasner, S. D. (1983). Structural Causes and Regime Consequences: Regimes as Intervening Variables. In S. D. Krasner (Ed.), International Regimes (pp. 1-21). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818300018920
Krebs, G. D. (2024). “Military Spacecraft.” Gunter's Space Page. Accessed from https://space.skyrocket.de/directories/sat_mil_fra.htm.
Krige, J, and Russo, A. (2002). SP-1235 – A History of the European Space Agency, 1958 – 1987 (Vol. 1 - ESRO and ELDO, 1958 - 1973). The Netherlands: ESA Publications Division. Accessed from https://www.esa.int/esapub/sp/sp1235/sp1235v1web.pdf.
Lehne, S. (2012). The Big Three in EU Foreign Policy. The Carnegie Papers. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Lister, Frederick K. (1984). Decision-making Strategies for International Organizations: The IMF Model. Monograph Series in World Affairs. University of Denver.
Lord, Douglas R. (1987). Spacelab: An International Success Story. NASA Scientific and Technical Information Division. Accessed from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19880009991.pdf.
Madders, K, & Thiebaut, W. (2007). Carpe Diem: Europe Must Make a Genuine Space Policy Now. Space Policy, 23(1), 7-12.
Milner, Helen. (1993). International Regimes and World Politics: Comments on the Articles by Smouts, de Senarclens and Jonsson'. International Social Science Journal, 45(4), 491-7.
Moravcsik, A. (1995). Liberal Intergovern-mentalism and Integration: A Rejoin-der. Center of European Studies, 33(4), 611-628.
Nye, J. S. (1990). Soft Power. Foreign Policy, 80, 153–171. https://doi.org/10.2307/1148580
OECD. (2023), The Space Economy in Figures: Responding to Global Challenges. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/fa5494aa-en.
Pasco, X. (2019). Space Security in the 21st Century: A France View. In France Ministry for the Armed Forces, Space Defense Strategy Report Working Group (pp. 97-126). Accessed from https://npolicy.org/article_file/Space_and_Missile_Wars-chapter_4.pdf.
Pasco, X. (2009). A European Approach to Space Security. Cambridge, United States: American Academy of Art and Sciences.
Snidal, D. (2009). The limits of hegemonic stability theory. International Organization, 39, 579-614. doi:10.1017/S002081830002703X
Weeden, B. & Samson, V. (2020). “Global Counter Space Capabilities: an open source assessment.” Secure World Foundation. Accessed from https://swfound.org/media/206970/swf_counterspace2020_electronic_final.pdf.
Young, M. (2024). The Evolution of France Space Security: A Report of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).
Young, Oran R. (1989). International Cooperation. Building Regimes for Natural Resources and the Environment. Ithaca, NY and London: Cornell University Press.
Published
2024-11-30
How to Cite
MEIRIZAL, Ade; SYAHFA, Muhammad Rayhan Faqih.
Measuring France Hegemony in the European Space Agency (ESA).
Insignia: Journal of International Relations, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 2, p. 150-165, nov. 2024.
ISSN 2597-9868.
Available at: <https://jos.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/insignia/article/view/12047>. Date accessed: 14 feb. 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2024.11.2.12047.
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Articles
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