Description
The space race of the 20th century was dominated by two superpowers. However, in the 21st century many more players have a stake in exploiting the technologies and opportunities of space exploration. This paper explores the extent to which we can discern structural racism amid these coalitions of states and other actors, and what this can tell us about their behaviour in space. We have on the one hand the USA and its ISS partners Canada, EU and Japan and on the other, China and its partners from the Global South. The whiteness of one party compared to the other is immediately apparent but digging deeper we find more questions to unpack. Race is one of the key power structures on earth, shaping relations between individuals and states. This paper seeks to understand how structural racism on earth is mirrored in space. How does the language, imagery and experience of colonialism and white supremacy shape the public imagination when it comes to exploring space? To what extent have legacies of colonialism played a role in how partnerships develop? What insights can postcolonial analysis offer into China’s efforts to build its outer space silk road?
