The United States and Russia Cooperation Paradox in Human Spaceflights: The Role of the Outer Space International Governance Regime

Abstract

The international situation in outer space constitutes a certain paradox in international relations. Indeed, the situation especially in the field of human spaceflights is contradictory where two superpowers (United States and Russia) cooperate extensively while having very difficult relations on Earth. Exploring this paradox can help to better understand why international relations in outer space differ from relations on Earth. It can also contribute to considering how international relations studies need to adapt in order to better understand political issues intrinsic to outer space. Firstly, this paper investigates the dominant argument in the literature to explain cooperation in outer space which is the role of the outer space international governance regime. It presents the way in which the literature defends that this regime explains cooperation between United States and Russia in human spaceflights. It demonstrates that the regime cannot explain this cooperation notably because the regime is inefficient, unstable, contested and lacks several mechanisms that are prerequisite for a regime in order to contribute to cooperation. Finally, the paper explores how a multidisciplinary approach around science and technology studies could help to better understand the cooperation paradox in human spaceflights.