ABSTRACT
War has an enduring nature. Therefore, millennia of historical experience and the practical implementation of strategy can help highlight the relationship between deterrence and the Law of War in space. Through such foundational understanding, more suitable space strategies may be developed, and effectual technological solutions proposed to achieve political ends during conflict.
Because the strategy of space warfare is a subset of general warfare strategy, the ideas of the inherent right of self-defense, deterrence, preemption, and dissuasion have applicability in space strategy. Even though deterrence has a legitimate role in future space strategy, it is not the panacea for preventing conflict. History teaches that deterrence will at times fail due to miscalculation, uncertainty, or chance—ideas incorporating the concept of Clausewitzian friction. This may also be the case for deterring acts of aggression, during great power competition in space, especially considering countries like the United States, Russia, and China have different perspectives on deterrence, compellence, and escalation control.
