CHACRCRITIQUE DECEMBER 2023
#4
WAR’S FINAL FRONTIER? There are few writers as familiar and commons we identified it as in the late 20th relevant to the British Army as Tim Century, then what rights do nations have Marshall. His 2015 Prisoners of to establish permanent military capabilities Geography has formed the basis of within that sphere? What rights do course reading lists across adversaries have to attack them? Defence and provided a And what rights do we have generation of Westburyto defend them? As Marshall bound officer candidates expands; in 2004, during the with the geopolitical insights Iraq War: “68% of US munitions to realise their ambitions. fired were guided by satellites, of Since then, Marshall’s works, which 80% were commercial. If which also include Worth Iraq had possessed the capability, Dying For (2016), Divided would it have been within its (2018), and The Power of rights to fire at those satellites?” Geography (2021), have been a regular theme of millions of The hypotheticals posed within “EACH TIME conference calls. HUMANITY HAS The Future of Geography are only
Published by Elliott & Thompson, Paperback, £9.99 ISBN: 9781783967247
TITLE The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change our World AUTHOR Tim Marshall REVIEWER Captain Ben Tomlinson, Visiting Fellow, CHACR
exacerbated by the emergence VENTURED The author’s most recent offering, of space’s commercial sector. As INTO A NEW The Future of Geography: How an industry, space is predicted DOMAIN IT HAS to explode in popularity. Having Power and Politics in Space Will BROUGHT WAR generated $450 billion in 2022, Change Our World, follows a WITH IT.” well-tested and much lauded it is expected to create revenues formula for success, but focuses of more than $1 trillion by 2040. its insights on the risks and opportunities of Commercial opportunities such as space an “era of Astropolitics”. As Marshall reflects, tourism or mining for rare and valuable “each time humanity has ventured into a materials all present moral dilemmas upon new domain it has brought war with it” and which any state actor could object. In there is no reason to doubt the opportunities turn, many of these friction points remain presented by space. ungoverned, and what space laws and treaties currently exist “are horribly out of date and Ultimately, the picture Marshall paints is not too vague for current conditions”. a cheery one. The emergence of great power competition has heralded another space Overall, The Future of Geography is a worthy race, in which we are presently engaged successor to Marshall’s finest offerings. – apparently. What is most concerning to The historical context, legal dilemmas and Marshall, however, is that unlike the last geopolitical implications of space exploration time round, the great powers are now able to are beautifully summarised for even the inflict catastrophic damage on one another most casual reader, and neatly packaged for in, or from, space. This capability therefore regurgitation by every officer commanding presents several issues. If space is the global in the Army. Definitely worth a read.
THE FUTURE OF GEOGRAPHY // CHACR CRITIQUE