Francesco Lapenta, Director of the JCU’s Institute of Future and Innovation Studies (IFIS), recently published a new article in Política Exterior, one of the leading Spanish-language magazines dedicated to international affairs, geopolitics, and strategic policy.
Titled Dominar el espacio para gobernar la Tierra ("Mastering Space to Govern the Earth"), the article argues that contemporary debates about space are asking the wrong question. Rather than treating space as humanity's next frontier for exploration, Lapenta contends that it has already become a critical layer of the Earth's governance architecture, one through which communication, navigation, finance, environmental monitoring, security, artificial intelligence, and strategic decision-making increasingly operate.
The article proposes that outer space should be understood simultaneously as a global commons, a marketplace, a military domain, and a critical infrastructure. This convergence challenges governance frameworks developed during the Cold War and raises fundamental questions about sovereignty, geopolitical competition, and the growing role of commercial actors alongside states in shaping the future of orbital infrastructure.
Moving beyond traditional discussions of space exploration, the article examines how satellite constellations, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructures are transforming the relationship between observation, communication, and political authority. As societies become increasingly dependent on orbital systems, the strategic significance of space extends well beyond exploration itself to encompass the infrastructures through which nations perceive, coordinate, and ultimately govern activities on Earth.
The publication reflects IFIS's continuing research on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital governance, and the future of international institutions, contributing to ongoing discussions on the governance of critical infrastructures and the evolving relationship between technology, geopolitics, and global public goods.
Read the full article on Política Exterior's website in Spanish.
