Series/Report no.:
ITS 33rd European Conference 2025: "Digital innovation and transformation in uncertain times", Edinburgh, UK, 29th June – 1st July 2025
Abstract:
Generally, a hegemon refers to a country or a group of countries that possesses hegemony, exerting influence over others by promoting its norms or values and dominating the international system. Nonetheless, there appears to be no single actor with absolute dominance in the space domain. Therefore, this study focuses on regional hegemons: the U.S., China, and Europe. On one hand, the U.S. and China are clear examples of regional hegemons, the former a leading Western power, the latter a major Eastern power. According to ESPI, both are considered space powers due to their strong capabilities and autonomy in space activities. On the other hand, while Europe is classified by ESPI as a spacefaring nation, this study treats it as a regional hegemon because of its significant space presence and its ability to secure orbital resources.