Published Online:January 2026
Product Name:The IUP Journal of International Relations
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJIR040126
DOI:10.71329/IUPJIR/2026.20.1.56-66
Author Name:Baruna Kumar Behera
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Arts and Humanities
Download Format:PDF
Pages:56-66
Over the last two decades, space activities have expanded beyond the traditional space-faring powers to an increasingly diverse set of countries in the Global South. Driven by lower-cost small satellites, growing national ambitions, development needs (telecommunications, remote sensing, disaster management) and active international cooperation and capacity building, countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are establishing space agencies, launching satellites and negotiating new partnerships in the domain of space. This paper examines the drivers of this shift, analyzes representative case studies (India, Brazil, South Africa and Africa-wide developments), studies geostrategic and governance implications and proposes policy recommendations to align space programs in the Global South with sustainable development and inclusive governance. Drawing on official agency documents, international organization reports, academic analyses and recent reporting on bilateral partnerships, the study argues that the Global South is simultaneously a beneficiary of and an active shaper in the contemporary reconfiguration of space activities, but realizing development outcomes requires long-term capacity building, transparent governance, diversified financing and multilateral engagement.
The Global South, which has been known for technological backwardness, has now acquired a new identity in the area of space technology. Countries like India have emerged as leading space-faring players of the world, setting new milestones in areas like Mars, Moon, etc.