into pragmatic forms of Realpolitik, France might soon change the current policy
and governance of the space sector by forcing a convergence of ESA and EU programs.
44
This process could be leveraged by Germany, whose economic power has
increased significantly, to the point that a new German aerospace and defence
industry could blossom,
45
even challenging the consolidated industrial complex
led by France.
46
On a global scale, China is undoubtedly the emerging superpower of the twentyfirst century. Not by chance, its successful space exploration achievements have
received significant media coverage worldwide. Western analysts are divided
between those who believe that Beijing’s economic growth is a bubble that is
going to burst
47
and those who consider the Asian country as the only real competitor to US imperialism.
48
Many theorize that opposing blocs arise cyclically;
after the fall of the Berlin Wall, they now see China as the revisionist superpower
49
that could replace the former Soviet Union in a new world order.
The undeniable Sino-American confrontation is yet another dilemma of
Norman Angell’s theory. Both economies have been progressively coupling over
the last decades, creating an unbalanced relationship, since China exports are far
greater than US exports. China has since become an economic powerhouse. It has
been implementing for many years an industrial and commercial evolution to
become the strongest economy on the planet by 2030. The foundations are two
ambitious multi-year plans, Made in China 2025
50
for industry and One Belt One
Road
51
for transportation. The latter aims to create a network of road, rail and sea
logistic infrastructures to connect Asia and Europe. The former, funded with $47
billion, plans to revolutionize industrial products by making them modern and
technologically innovative. Made in China 2025 is a giant research and
44
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2019-2024/breton/announcements/
introductory-speech-commissioner-breton-space-council-29052020_en.
45
https://www.politico.eu/article/german-bomb-debate-goes-nuclear-nato-donald-trumpdefense-spending/.
46
Financial Times. 2020. Germany Joins Space Race as Munich Start-Up Begins Rocket
Production. https://www.ft.com/content/6b2b4127-51ce-4a7f-a593-c34ac8198e07.
47
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/in-china-a-strategy-born-of-weakness/.
48
Allison, Graham. 2017. Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap?
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books.
49
US National Security Strategy, December 2017.
50
China Manufacturing 2025. 2017. Putting Industrial Policy Ahead of Market Forces,
European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Available on: http://www.europeanchamber.
com.cn/en/china-manufacturing-2025.
51
Kun, Zhai. 2015. One Belt and One Road: The Wings of a Great Nation. In One Belt and One
Road Leads China: Strategic National Design and Implementation Guideline. Caixin Media
Editorial Department editor. Beijing: China Wenshi Publishing House.
76 Technopolitics of Space Between History and Realpolitik
and governance of the space sector by forcing a convergence of ESA and EU programs.
44
This process could be leveraged by Germany, whose economic power has
increased significantly, to the point that a new German aerospace and defence
industry could blossom,
45
even challenging the consolidated industrial complex
led by France.
46
On a global scale, China is undoubtedly the emerging superpower of the twentyfirst century. Not by chance, its successful space exploration achievements have
received significant media coverage worldwide. Western analysts are divided
between those who believe that Beijing’s economic growth is a bubble that is
going to burst
47
and those who consider the Asian country as the only real competitor to US imperialism.
48
Many theorize that opposing blocs arise cyclically;
after the fall of the Berlin Wall, they now see China as the revisionist superpower
49
that could replace the former Soviet Union in a new world order.
The undeniable Sino-American confrontation is yet another dilemma of
Norman Angell’s theory. Both economies have been progressively coupling over
the last decades, creating an unbalanced relationship, since China exports are far
greater than US exports. China has since become an economic powerhouse. It has
been implementing for many years an industrial and commercial evolution to
become the strongest economy on the planet by 2030. The foundations are two
ambitious multi-year plans, Made in China 2025
50
for industry and One Belt One
Road
51
for transportation. The latter aims to create a network of road, rail and sea
logistic infrastructures to connect Asia and Europe. The former, funded with $47
billion, plans to revolutionize industrial products by making them modern and
technologically innovative. Made in China 2025 is a giant research and
44
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2019-2024/breton/announcements/
introductory-speech-commissioner-breton-space-council-29052020_en.
45
https://www.politico.eu/article/german-bomb-debate-goes-nuclear-nato-donald-trumpdefense-spending/.
46
Financial Times. 2020. Germany Joins Space Race as Munich Start-Up Begins Rocket
Production. https://www.ft.com/content/6b2b4127-51ce-4a7f-a593-c34ac8198e07.
47
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/in-china-a-strategy-born-of-weakness/.
48
Allison, Graham. 2017. Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap?
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books.
49
US National Security Strategy, December 2017.
50
China Manufacturing 2025. 2017. Putting Industrial Policy Ahead of Market Forces,
European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Available on: http://www.europeanchamber.
com.cn/en/china-manufacturing-2025.
51
Kun, Zhai. 2015. One Belt and One Road: The Wings of a Great Nation. In One Belt and One
Road Leads China: Strategic National Design and Implementation Guideline. Caixin Media
Editorial Department editor. Beijing: China Wenshi Publishing House.
76 Technopolitics of Space Between History and Realpolitik