EMERGING SPACE PROGRAMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Loading...
Authors
Barker, Tyler J.
Subjects
space policy
South Africa
Nigeria
developing countries
emerging space actors
sub-Saharan Africa
space programs
South Africa
Nigeria
developing countries
emerging space actors
sub-Saharan Africa
space programs
Advisors
Sigman, Rachel L.
Date of Issue
2021-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Sub-Saharan African countries with established space programs have pursued a variety of different space policies, some focusing on national security, some focusing on socioeconomic development, or some on a mix of the two. Which factors—foreign partners, domestic politics, bureaucratic institutions, or economic capacity—are the strongest drivers of these policy decisions in African space programs? This thesis uses a qualitative case study analysis of the two most advanced space programs in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa and Nigeria, to address the research question. Each case study provides a brief history of the country's space program before analyzing the roles each factor plays in space policy decisions. In both South Africa and Nigeria, only domestic political priorities had a strong impact on the space programs’ trajectories, while the remaining factors exhibited either weak influence or no influence. The strength of the political priorities hypothesis suggests a high degree of political agency and national pride in each country's space program, which contrasts with typical "Afro-pessimist" approaches to African studies. If U.S. leaders desire to improve geopolitical relationships with strategic partners in Africa, thereby counterbalancing great power competition on the continent, the U.S. should assist African countries in implementing their political priorities by increasing space cooperation with African countries across the commercial, civil, and military sectors.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.