German Space Strategy in Times of Geopolitical Turbulence: From Cooperation to Conflict

Leonard Brecht

doi:10.5771/9783689006099

Summary

The author examines a field that has received little attention to date: the geopolitical and security policy turning point resulting from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and its implications for Germany’s space strategy. Drawing on the concepts of hedging and balancing, and based on qualitative expert interviews, the author demonstrates that the war acts more as a catalyst than a genuine turning point. Chronic underfunding and bureaucratic inertia prevent a fundamental shift in strategy, and the growing unreliability of the United States intensifies Germany’s security dilemma in space. The intersection of geopolitics and space strategy offers valuable insights for astropolitics and political science research.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright Year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-68900-608-2
ISBN-Online: 978-3-68900-609-9
Publisher: Tectum, Baden-Baden
Series: Young Academics: Outer Space
Volume: 4
Language: English
Pages: 105
Product Type: Monograph

1. Preface No access
1. 1.1 Problem Definition and Objectives No access
2. 1.2 Research gap and Structure of the thesis No access
1. 1. 2.1.1 Space Nationalism No access
  2. 2.1.2 Global Institutionalism No access
2. 1. 2.2.1 Dual-Use Dilemma No access
  2. 2.2.2 Security Dilemma No access
3. 1. 2.3.1 Balancing in Times of Conflict No access
  2. 2.3.2 Hedging in Times of Insecurity No access
1. 3.1 Qualitative Content Analysis: The Guideline-based Expert Interview No access
2. 3.2 Preparation of the Interview Guide and Selection of Experts No access
3. 3.3 Category Formation and Evaluation No access
1. 1. 4.1.1 Space Cooperation with Russia No access
  2. 4.1.2 Identification of Risks and Vulnerabilities and Legal Sharpening No access
  3. 4.1.3 Securitization and Military Perspectives No access
  4. 4.1.4 Security Dilemma and Dependence on American Capabilities No access
2. 1. 4.2.1 Doubts about the Reliability of the Main Ally No access
  2. 4.2.2 Strategic Resilience, Diversification of Cooperation and Autonomy No access
  3. 4.2.3 Appeasement and Restraint of a Middle Power in a Multipolar World No access
3. 4.3 Features of Balancing: Military Capacity Building as a Strategic Counterweight No access
4. 1. 4.4.1 Germany as a Status-Quo and Security-Seeking State No access
  2. 4.4.2 Hedging as an established Strategy No access
  3. 4.4.3 Budget Issues and Implementation Hurdles No access
1. 5.1 Classification of Results No access
2. 5.2 Ambivalence between Strategic Ambition and Implementation No access
3. 5.3 Limitations and Strength of the Research Design No access
6. Conclusion No access Pages 77 - 80
Literature No access Pages 81 - 92