Astropolitics & Space
Humans are rapidly expanding into space, driven by a breathtaking range of new technologies. With Scandinavia as your base, survey new developments in Europe and the U.S. as you explore their implications for our planetary ecology, geopolitics, and culture. See new technologies and their impacts up close, from those developing European space strategy and mining resources, to the impacted local populations protesting against these swift changes.

Is this program right for you? |
It is a good fit if you study:
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Sustainability
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View this program at DISabroad.org |
Core Courses
Astropolitics: Technology, Sustainability, and the New Space Race
Fall/Spring, 3 Credits
Humans have always been starbound. Even our earliest cultures and religions ascribed meaning to the universe around us, binding our existence to the stars and the patterns of the night sky. In this course, we explore the past, present, and future of that development.
We will unpack the increasingly complex role of space in human geopolitical competition. We look at how and why space – from satellite data, to asteroid mining or atmosphere geo-engineering – is now a crucial part of the sustainability-agenda, promising ‘green growth’ while at the same time introducing a whole new range of risks and dangers. We will explore the growing tensions between national and commercial actors, including the monopolies, and grand civilizational agendas, of that handful of tech-titans pushing much of the current space race forward. We also look at case studies, where a clash between local and global, indigenous and industrial stakeholders, unfold. Finally, we reflect on the ethical and legal dilemmas that surround the protection and regulation of space in the future.

Core Course Study Tours
This program travels on Study Tours to the following destinations:
- Week-Long Study Tour: Arctic Sweden
- Core Course Week: Denmark
Early in the semester, you delve into your academic focus during Core Course Week, in which you travel on a short Study Tour for three days in Sweden or a neighboring country, combined with a two-day seminar in Copenhagen. Later in the semester, you travel again with your Core Course on a week-long Study Tour in Europe.
While on tour, theories learned in the classroom come to life by meeting with professionals and experts in your field who contribute to furthering your understanding of course topics. Study Tours are hands-on and experiential, combining theory with practice, and expose you to additional cultural perspectives. You have the opportunity to visit sites and experts in your field of interest that you may not otherwise have access to.

Elective Courses
Add elective courses to complement your Core Course at DIS Stockholm. You decide how to build your course load based on your needs and interests!
Electives range across disciplines and include research, workshops, studios, and even Exploration Electives, which come with a travel component.
Visit our website to view the full list of over 65 additional elective courses!