Geoeconomics and the Space Power Competition

Abstract Geoeconomics as an academic discipline came to the fore of the research interest in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War. It highlights the importance of using economic tools in a great power competition. The chapter covers the width of the geoeconomic thought and applies it to the outer space domain. It distinguishes between direct and indirect means of influencing international politics with both coercive and rewarding means. As such, it highlights not only that the economy is crucial for understanding political processes in space, but also that a strategic thinking behind economic decisions must inform our understanding of the space economy.