Space Exploration
@outerspacedev
Dr. Edythe E. Weeks, Esq. @outerspacedev
Title: Adjunct Faculty & Fulbright Specialist Alumnus, Washington University and Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
Research Topic: Political dynamics of international law regarding the development of outer space and the implications for the polar regions global commons
Institution: Northern Arizona University
Committee Chair: Geeta Chowdhry, PhD.
Abstract: The research design consists of a mixed-methods approach involving a blend of qualitative and quantitative data; a critical discourse analysis; and an application of insights from constructivism, Gramsci and regime theory. This methodology uses participant observation and an interpretive analysis to determine power and influence regarding change in space law and to explain new private sector activity in the post-Cold War power era. This case study provides a step-by-step behind-the-scenes reflection of the researcher’s thoughts, beliefs, activities and learned experiences in formulating the research design for a doctoral dissertation, and ongoing research project. It focuses on change concerning international space law and explains the process of imagining, discovering, locating, collecting, analyzing data, writing up and interpreting the findings are outlined. Understanding actions and activities of individuals and groups involved influencing change of international space law required the researcher to get up close and personal by becoming an actual participant in the space law policy making community. It aimed to understand and explain new actors, new debates, new policies and new industries, such as private spaceship development, private space tourism, commercial space settlement and space mining. The quantitative data was collected mainly from 2002-2005. At this time, phenomena discussed, regarding privatization of space activities, were little known. Still today, most people do not known exactly what caused the shift is discourses about outer space. Laws, policies, treaties, testimonies and hearing transcripts and related documentation leave footprints for researchers to demonstrate what happened, how it happened and the key actors in the process of change.
Title: Adjunct Faculty & Fulbright Specialist Alumnus, Washington University and Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
Research Topic: Political dynamics of international law regarding the development of outer space and the implications for the polar regions global commons
Institution: Northern Arizona University
Committee Chair: Geeta Chowdhry, PhD.
Abstract: The research design consists of a mixed-methods approach involving a blend of qualitative and quantitative data; a critical discourse analysis; and an application of insights from constructivism, Gramsci and regime theory. This methodology uses participant observation and an interpretive analysis to determine power and influence regarding change in space law and to explain new private sector activity in the post-Cold War power era. This case study provides a step-by-step behind-the-scenes reflection of the researcher’s thoughts, beliefs, activities and learned experiences in formulating the research design for a doctoral dissertation, and ongoing research project. It focuses on change concerning international space law and explains the process of imagining, discovering, locating, collecting, analyzing data, writing up and interpreting the findings are outlined. Understanding actions and activities of individuals and groups involved influencing change of international space law required the researcher to get up close and personal by becoming an actual participant in the space law policy making community. It aimed to understand and explain new actors, new debates, new policies and new industries, such as private spaceship development, private space tourism, commercial space settlement and space mining. The quantitative data was collected mainly from 2002-2005. At this time, phenomena discussed, regarding privatization of space activities, were little known. Still today, most people do not known exactly what caused the shift is discourses about outer space. Laws, policies, treaties, testimonies and hearing transcripts and related documentation leave footprints for researchers to demonstrate what happened, how it happened and the key actors in the process of change.
Click the link below to download the complete study
| weeks_dissertation.pdf |