Limitations in regulating weaponization in the new space race

As states progressively expand their military capacities beyond the atmosphere, the militarization and the weaponization of space became a landmark in human history. Over the years, the space objectives of states shifted from solely attaining military power to having multidimensional smart power which involves commercial and civil aspects. The continuous process of development in space technologies began to have an ongoing impact on weaponization through commercial gains. Therefore, understanding the transformation of the space race through commercialisation is necessary to uncover the structural impediments to disarmament. Along with addressing the role of commercialisation on achieving power in space, this thesis examines three main limitations in regulating weaponization: the surge in non-state actors participating in arms development, dual-use space technologies, and the absence of robust international enforcement mechanisms. It also offers a qualitative analysis on the interplay of the new dynamics in the current international environment which adds layers of complexity to the traditional state-centric paradigm. To develop strategies against the potential threats of space weaponization, these limitations should be an issue of considerable significance to all states.