# Global Power Dynamics in the Contemporary Space System
## 1 Introduction  
In the 21 st century, the space system has experienced a substantial shift from a simple unipolar to a new and more complex structure. The unipolar structure that prevailed in the post-Cold War era has been replaced by a space system, in which emerging space powers exhibit global ambitions and a willingness to compete and challenge the United States' dominance. This transition has been accompanied by the emergence of new space powers and a shift in global power dynamics, resulting in a significant redistribution of power within the space structure. The concept of power occupies a central position in the analysis of international relations. However, it is also a notion that is pervasive and arguably overused in this field. Since the Westphalia Peace in 1648, nation-states have been the predominant actors in the international system, driven by a pursuit of increased power. The inherent propensity of states to seek power is attributed to the anarchic nature of the international system and the absence of supranational authorities. The concept of power, as generally defined, refers to the ability of the possessor to cause the object of that power to perform actions that would not otherwise be performed [1]. This notion frequently involves the utilization of military, economic, or political threats to ensure a nation's own objectives, occasionally at the expense of other nations [2, 3]. The application of the concept of \"power\" within the context of the space sector remains ambiguous and unclear. Within the academic community, there is no consensus onan accepted definition of the concept of space power. [PERSON] is among the earliest scholars to define \"space power\" as \"the ability of a nation to exploit the space environment in pursuit of national goals and purposes, and includes the entire astronautical capabilities of the nation\" [4]. Subsequent definitions have focused on specific aspects that define a broad concept such as space power: the development of military space capabilities [5; 6], the relevance of the geopolitical and geostragetic aspects [7; 8], the new role of the space economy and the private sector [9; 10; 11], the increasing relevance of space cooperation and space diplomacy to build \"soft power\" [12; 13], the capacity of states to shape the regulatory landscape [14], or a combination of some of these aspects. The majority of these conceptual definitions of space power support the notion that space power encompasses more than just the military aspects of the domain. Rather, they contend that space power also incorporates the commercial, political, and diplomatic dimensions of space, which collectively contribute to the realization of a national goal. In the realm of international relations, the realist school of thought has long held that outer space constitutes a critical asset for states to expand their influence within the international system. Consequently, in addition to the conventional realms of power--namely, the terrestrial, maritime, and aerial domains--new dimensions have emerged in recent decades, including the cyber/virtual and outer space domains. In this regard, [PERSON] introduced the concept of \"astropolitik\", a refined realist perspective on state competition in outer space [7]. According to [PERSON], space activities are regarded as geopolitically vital assets, and states are likely to compete and engage in strategic competition for control of these assets. In addition to the concept of power, the notion of \"power dynamics\" becomes central to understanding the distribution of power in a system. As [PERSON] noted [1], the concept of power is inherently relational, as it is defined in relation to other actors within the system. In essence, the term \"global power dynamics\" refers to the interactions and relationships between nations as they exercise influence over one another in political, economic, and military domains.