South-South Cooperation in EO: New Contours in International Relations
- Paper number
IAC-08.B1.1.4
- Author
Dr. V. Jayaraman, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), India
- Year
2008
- Abstract
South-South Cooperation in EO is a paradigm shift away from the traditional alliances. Countries from the South with widely differing experience have been learning from each other in different arenas — economic, technological, environmental or institutional etc are moving forward in pursuing EO as well for the holistic development. A quest for finding solutions to the common problems is making South South cooperation a reality. Capturing the trends, the author considers South-South alliances and networks, as a strategic tool for holistic development, is quite promising in coming days. The author highlights India’s strategic South South Cooperation initiatives as an example to illustrate this new alliance. The unenviable strategy of Indian EO programme towards attaining a self-reliant, application driven programme, maintaining vital links to the user community and committed to excellence in scientific endeavours has borne fruits over the decades. India has come a long way in these intervening years by developing an end-to-end capability for developing operational space systems in terms of launch vehicles, spacecraft, ground segment and applications, besides the unique institutional arrangement. Even as self reliance and autonomy in decision making are the life currents, and will continue to guide the Indian EO programme, the international cooperation has been the corner stone in this success story with concerted efforts being made by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to establish bilateral agreements and multi-lateral arrangements making use of both the commercial, cooperative and service oriented opportunities. As roles and relations in space are being redefined, there is a new paradigm in international space activities. Reduced cost of access to space have allowed many new players to acquire and operate EO systems with moderate investment compared with the early systems of 1970’s and 80’s. World is witnessing a transition from the established relations existing since the beginning of the space age to emerging patterns in the 21st century. The consolidation of South-South axis of cooperation is expected to take strong hold in the coming years with many developing countries entering the EO arena with Asia having the most diverse representation; India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. India’s EO relations, in the recent times, with these countries signal a new paradigm where South-South Cooperation is expected to create the new contours.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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