The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests [Hardcover]

James Clay Moltz (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0804759146 | ISBN-13: 978-0804759144 | Publication Date: June 24, 2008

At a time when no other country enjoys the advantages that the United States currently reaps from space, some U.S. officials argue that U.S. space defenses will be needed to protect access to critical military and civilian assets in orbit. Others argue that space should be a valuable "sanctuary" from deployed weapons and military conflict.

To inform this debate—and develop meaningful guidelines for the future—Clay Moltz has undertaken the only comprehensive study of the first 50 years of space security, highlighting the main trends in military space developments, their underlying causes, and the factors that are likely to influence their future course.

What emerges is a picture of surprising military restraint shown by the United States and the Soviet Union in space, and the inescapable conclusion that the only way forward is through a multilateral commitment to interdependent, environmentally focused space security.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Making effective use of the secondary literature, supplemented by insights drawn from interviews with a wide range of officials and access to the relevant archives in the USA and Russia, The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests confirms Moltz's command of his field of study... James Moltz's book serves as a superb primer for understanding the complex and interrelated issues within the fields of space policy and security studies."—John Berryman, University of London, Space Policy

"James Clay Moltz makes an impressive and timely contribution to security studies and ongoing policy discussions with The Politics of Space Security... Given the complexity of the subject matter and the importance of the dual forces of technology and politics, it is difficult to find fault with this thoughtful and comprehensive volume."—David W. Kearn Jr., St. John's University, Review of Policy Research

"The intellectual scope and historical detail of Clay Moltz's study are truly impressive. He has brought to bear on a pressing issue in international security both high quality scholarship and pragmatic policy prescriptions. Professor Moltz's book is a "must read" for anyone concerned about the future sustainability of U.S. and global space activities." —Dr. John M. Logsdon, Director, Space Policy Institute, The George Washington University

"Clay Moltz reassesses the importance of the superpowers' growing knowledge about harmful effects in the space environment especially space radiation and debris and explains how this environmental learning fundamentally shaped space security interactions during the Cold War. A truly seminal book that not only illuminates an underappreciated factor in past space security decision-making but also sheds light on how environmental learning may play a key role in overcoming challenges and improving future space security."—Dr. Peter Hays, Associate Director, Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy

"Rarely does a book add to the literature of multiple fields as well as The Politics of Space Security. A "must read" for both political scientists and policy practitioners, as one of the few books to examine an increasingly critical space security issues through the lens of traditional political science concepts and theory." —Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese, Chair, National Security Decision-Making Department, Naval War College

About the Author

James Clay Moltz is an Associate Professor on the National Security Affairs faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School. He taught previously in the Monterey Institute's Graduate School of International Policy Studies and held various positions at the institute's Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) including CNS deputy director and founding editor of The Nonproliferation Review.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Stanford Security Studies (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804759146
• ISBN-13: 978-0804759144
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,423,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A voice of reason in an often emotional crowd, September 1, 2008

By 

James A. Vedda (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests (Stanford Security Studies) (Paperback)

Clay Moltz has done us a great service by producing an accurate, thorough, and well-reasoned account of national and global space security, including how we got where we are and where we might be going. This is particularly refreshing because much of the writing that has been done on this topic in recent years has lacked some or all of the above qualities.
The majority of the book (about 230 of the 329 pages of text) takes us through the first half-century of the space age from the perspective of space security issues. This is more than just a litany of geopolitical events, technological developments, and international agreements. It is a well-crafted retelling that ties together a multitude of threads in a way that brings clarity to the discussion of the philosophies, political motivations, and range of potential behaviors in space security activities. Those who are steeped in the history and policy of this subject will tread familiar ground in this 50-year narrative, and will find it valuable as a well-documented reference. For those who are new to the subject, this book is perhaps the quickest way to get up to speed as it consolidates a wealth of literature into one understandable package. It will make an outstanding textbook for graduate courses in security policy, and also for advanced undergraduates.
The author clearly draws on dissertation research that was done 20 years earlier, but it is updated and merged smoothly with more recent work that benefits from two decades of further research and experience. The numerous footnotes are a great resource and many include web addresses of source documents. In addition to the references, there are a significant number of informational footnotes. My only quibble with the presentation is that these notes typically contain material that could have been incorporated into the main text without distracting from the narrative.
The book's conclusions are that continued military restraint in space is in the best interests of U.S. and global security, and that transnational partnerships are to be encouraged. This summary statement (in my own words) does not do justice to the logical and balanced argument that Clay Moltz presents. He also recognizes that the future could take any of several different vectors, which makes me hope that Clay will revise this book every few years. But don't wait for the next edition. If you have any interest in this subject, read the book - whether or not you agree with his conclusions.