Cosmic extractivism - How Space Exploration Technologies Reinforce Unequal Ecological Exchange and Expand Capitalist Extractivism
Keywords
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
2025-08-13
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
This thesis investigates how the growing demand for Rare Earth Elements (REEs), spurred on by space exploration technologies, worsens the effects of unequal ecological exchange and extractivism. By looking at World-Systems theory, unequal ecological exchange and extractivism, this study analyzes how ambitions to conquer space reshape and perpetuate Earth’s extractions mechanisms. Using Critical Discourse Analysis on government, corporate and community documents with Atlas.ti on REE mining and space exploration, this research shows the differences between stakeholder narratives: governments and corporations look at economic growth, security and sustainability while neglecting harms that communities do experience. Although current REE usage in the space industry is minor compared to other sectors, it’s reliance on REEs and the industries potential to scale up in the future may cause more inequalities. The concept of cosmic extractivism is added to the debate as a warning that resource appropriation for space may help to continuate exploitative trends that we see today where the global north acquires benefits and the costs are externalized to the global south.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen