Brett, Kathleen J.
(2024)
2024: A BRICS Odyssey.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
The enlargement of the BRICS group in 2024 to formally consist of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates marked a significant shift for the coalition. Although this group has primarily served as an economic alliance, a variety of formal documents and increasing efforts to collaborate on a new space station suggest that the BRICS countries are positioning themselves to eventually challenge Western powers in outer space. I offer a theory-informed framework to assess whether the BRICS group can achieve their space goals and if collaborating on member-proposed projects (i.e., the Russian Orbital Station) will further their possible long-term space presence. The framework highlights the importance of political agreement, resources, technology, and management in the pursuit of space goals. Analysis of metrics informed by this framework, like adherence to legal frameworks, real GDP per capita, national space research specialties, and management bodies in which the countries participate, suggests that the BRICS group is successfully positioned to achieve its goal of establishing a long-term space presence. While the group is not perfect, the presence of national space programs in each BRICS country, likely budgetary and resource contributions from privileged actors to the coalition, and exposure to and involvement in management bodies on space and dispute management, indicate a collective ability to work together to establish a productive, long-term space presence. The inclusion of a Western-centric policy agenda, focused on bolstering resources, technology, and management of space programs, is crucial to securing United States and allied interests.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
9 April 2024 |
| Defense Date: |
2 April 2024 |
| Approval Date: |
3 June 2024 |
| Submission Date: |
10 April 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
72 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs > Public and International Affairs |
| Degree: |
MPIA - Master of Public and International Affairs |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
BRICS group, outer space, coalition |
| Date Deposited: |
03 Jun 2024 14:20 |
| Last Modified: |
03 Jun 2024 14:20 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46085 |
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