From Earth-Centric to Space-Centric Geopolitics: Rethinking Power Beyond the Planet
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The rapid expansion of state and commercial activity in outer space is reshaping foundational assumptions about geopolitical power and international order. This article examines how emerging space practices, ranging from satellite warfare and resource extraction to planetary colonization, challenge Earth-centric frameworks that have long dominated international relations theory. Drawing on recent U.S. policy shifts and a critical case study of the 2025 Senate hearings for NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman, the analysis identifies a key fault line between competing strategic divisions: NASA’s multilateral Artemis framework and SpaceX’s Mars-directed approach. To interpret these developments, the article proposes a typology of geopolitical perspectives, Earth-centric, Earth-bound, and space-centric, and argues that a space-centric lens offers a richer understanding of how outer space is becoming a source, not just a site, of political order. The findings suggest that expanding the conceptual boundaries of geopolitics is essential for understanding contemporary transformations in global power and institutional authority.
Source: SocArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Authors: Darshan Vigneswaran, Enrike van Wingerden
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225322725