ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 describes a theory of space economic peace beginning with a consideration of definitions and assumptions. These include the concept of conflict in space, the role of the state in space, and the assumption of rational behavior. Five premises of the space economic peace are then introduced: states are interested in promoting economic success; the global economy is increasingly dependent on space; state economic success is increasingly dependent on space to the extent that a state’s economy is integrated with the global economy; the more dependent on space the economy is, the greater the costs of conflict; and the economic costs of conflict in space will outweigh the benefits of it and so discourage states from actively weaponizing space. The implications of this theory are sketched out briefly and the chapter concludes with a discussion on the benefits of cooperation.
