About
If we want to go to space for, indeed, all humankind, to find new hope and prosper, our nature to commit crime must be taken into account - Yarin Eski
Our
Story
Space Criminology stands as an academic pursuit, committed to fostering a scholarly environment in the exploration of space-related crimes, policing, security, and justice. Our aim is to contribute to the academic understanding of this field, offering a nuanced perspective on the complexities inherent to the cosmic frontier.
In the domain of Space Criminology, our objective is to engage in systematic research and scholarly analysis of space-related crimes, emphasizing a holistic approach. We are dedicated to investigating these offenses, their ramifications, and potential solutions within the framework of rigorous academic inquiry.
Space Criminology is committed to the scientific investigation of a diverse range of space crimes, encompassing activities such as interpersonal conflict, unauthorized resource extraction and satellite interference, space ecocrime and human rights violations in and through space. Our research endeavors to provide a interdisciplinary comprehension of these transgressions, contributing to the scholarly discourse surrounding space-related activities.
Policing in the celestial realm presents distinctive challenges. Given the vastness of space and its complex legal dynamics, space law enforcement agencies confront intricate tasks. Space Criminology examines their possible strategies and initiatives, offering objective insights into the methodologies employed to establish and sustain lawful, just and feasible conduct in the cosmic arena.
The security of people and space assets, including satellites, space stations, and vital resources, as well as the pristine environments of space themselves, holds paramount significance. Space Criminology engages in academic exploration of the protective measures developed and implemented to safeguard human activity, invaluable assets and resources, and the space environment itself. Our objective analyses contribute to the scholarly understanding of how humanity preserves both its own interests and that of space in the cosmic expanse.
Even in the extraterrestrial domain, the pursuit of justice remains a fundamental principle. Space Criminology addresses human rights violations, ethical considerations, and the evolution of legal frameworks within the realm of space activities. Our commitment lies in promoting impartiality, accountability, and the preservation of the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their cosmic location.
what if... we had a
Universal Space Criminal Justice Act
?
USCJ
“On November 3, 2057, representatives from countries worldwide, major space agencies, and international organizations like the UNOOSA and UN, came together for a historic event. They all signed the Universal Space Criminal Justice Act (USCJA), a significant treaty aimed at promoting justice and peace in space. The USCJA recognized the need to protect space from criminal activities and established clear rules and criminal offenses applicable in the cosmic realm. It ensured that everyone, regardless of their background, would be entitled to fair trials and due process for any crimes committed in space. The attendees acknowledged the challenges of space exploration but were optimistic about overcoming them through cooperation and shared resources. They saw space advancements as not just a means of exploration but also beneficial for life on Earth. The signing of the USCJA marked a new era of unity and collaboration in space exploration. It aimed to foster partnerships and transcend borders, as everyone recognized that space belongs to all of humanity. With the USCJA in place, the world looked forward to exploring the cosmos with a renewed sense of hope. They saw justice as the guiding light for humanity’s cosmic journey, ensuring a peaceful and harmonious universe for generations to come. The treaty became a symbol of humanity’s commitment to a future where space remained a realm of cooperation and prosperity.”
This story and the Universal Space Criminal Justice Act (USCJA) itself, which can be downloaded below, entail an ironic and tongue-in-cheek piece of international legislation that is still missing at this point in time. In fact, it is not even seriously talked about within the international community.
Given that conflicts and pollution caused by space debris are already happening in space, commercial spaceflight tourism is developing significantly, and human missions to the Moon and Mars are planned to begin in a few years, it is necessary to start anticipating future misbehavior and crimes in space.
Therefore, the USCJA is meant as a discussion starter to ignite serious international effort and debate to work toward such an act.
This initiative has been inspired by “The Rise of the Meritocracy,” a book by British sociologist and politician Michael Dunlop Young that was first published in 1958. The book warned against a dystopian society in a future United Kingdom where intelligence and merit became the most important factors, erasing social class divisions and creating a society stratified between a merited power-holding elite and a disenfranchised underclass of the less merited.
Young satirized the Tripartite System of education that was being practiced but never intended for the word “meritocracy” to eventually be adopted into the English language without the negative connotations he had criticized. It disappointed Young, as he meant it to be read as a critical sociological analysis presented in satire.
Likewise, this Act should be read as a criminological critique of the absence of the USCJA. The lack of such an act could potentially enable crimes, including new ones, to take place in the future, with offenders enjoying impunity.
We have learned about maritime crime and later aviation crime, but only after-the-fact. Now, we have the luxury of considering space crime before-the-fact and working toward an appropriate internationally shared criminal justice system to combat it. This is how this Act ought to be read and understood, as well as its role as a discussion starter.
The USCJA by Dr Yarin Eski, can be interpreted as a thought-provoking stimulus for thought experimentation. By using this broadly outlined document, conflict situations in space travel can be analyzed. Although it involves exercising imagination, the need for a USCJA is certainly not something we should dismiss as mere speculation. Current developments in the aerospace industry compel us to contemplate our behaviour, actions, and their implications.
Are there perhaps already space ventures, missions, or other endeavours that may come into friction with the USCJA? Are there sci-fi scenarios that we need to contemplate? Are there additional points that should be added or definitions that need to be reconsidered?
Initiate the conversation and get in touch with us!
