Space power, unlike land, sea, and air power, lacks a coherent strategic theory with which its nature and character as a form of military power can be understood. Many attempts at developing such a theory use what this thesis calls strategic analogies, from established sea and air power theory in the belief that if one or more points in sea/air power find a match in space power then other points of similarity can therefore be extrapolated. The result of this process ofreasoning by strategic analogy is that sea .' and air power theory are literally applied to space power. This thesis questions the use ofstrategic analogies by developing a methodology that breaks down the process of reasoning by analogy into its constituent parts, and using the prism provided by the dimensions of strategy, compares and contrasts sea and air power with what is actually known about space power. The results ofthis process help elucidate the true character of space power as it really is, and foundation elements ofwhat a theory of space power might look like are set out. Thus, the dissertation provides a more rigorous basis from which strategic theorists can leave behind the unsound method of reasoning by strategic analogy and start the process of inductive creativity in theory making for space power.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:485499 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Sheldon, John B. |
| Publisher | University of Reading |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0019 seconds